On the evening of the 18th local time, Chile's first sea freight "Cherry Express" ship of the 2025-2026 season departed from the port of San Antonio. The "fresh goods" from the southern hemisphere are expected to arrive in China in 23 days, and the Chinese market will usher in a new round of cherry season. Cherries are Chile's second largest export product after copper, with China accounting for 93% of Chile's total cherry exports in the previous season. ”At the inaugural launch ceremony held at San Antonio Port on the 18th, Chilean Agriculture Minister Ignacia Fernandez told reporters. This is a port photo taken on November 18th at the Port of San Antonio in Chile. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Jorge Villegas) In order to ensure the fresh arrival of cherries in China, Chile has launched the direct sea freight route "Cherry Express" since 2018, reducing the travel time from 30 days to 23 days. This year, Chile has once again strengthened the operation of the "Cherry Express", planning a total of 32 direct flights, doubling from last year. Chile is far away from China, but the cherries we produce can be enjoyed by Chinese consumers with almost freshly picked quality, which is definitely a miracle. ”Speaking of the star product cherries, Ivan Marambio, President of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association, is filled with pride. At the recently held China International Import Expo, Chilean cherries, as one of the top winter fruits in the Chinese market, once again attracted the attention of many consumers and buyers. On November 18th, workers were carrying out loading and unloading operations at the port of San Antonio, Chile. According to Marambio, participating in important trade promotion activities such as the China International Import Expo is of great significance to Chile's fruit industry and national economy. This exhibition is not only a platform to showcase high-quality Chilean fruits, but also an opportunity for comprehensive and in-depth communication and cooperation between Chile and China. It is a great satisfaction to see the fruits we have carefully cultivated being loved by Chinese consumers and establishing close emotional connections with them. ”He stated that China's opening-up has never stopped, helping Chile consolidate its position as the main supplier of winter fruits to China. This year, the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association also collaborated with Chinese e-commerce platforms to launch the "Chilean Cherry Ice and Snow Festival" in conjunction with the new scene of winter ice and snow consumption, adding fuel to the upcoming sales peak season. Cherries are the pride of Chile and have become a national calling card in recent years. They are also an important 'gateway' for other Chilean products to enter the Chinese market. ”Claudia Soler, Executive Director of the Cherry Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association, said. This is a cargo ship serving the "Cherry Express" captured on November 18th at the port of San Antonio, Chile. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Jorge Villegas) Soler stated that China's consumption of imported fruits continues to grow, with cherries being a representative product. Cherries are not only popular in first tier cities in China, but their consumption is also increasing in second - and third tier cities. To meet the growing consumer demand in the Chinese market, the association collaborates with enterprises to provide products of different specifications, packaging, and sizes based on consumer preferences in different regions of China, making cherries highly adaptable at all levels of consumption. Our goal is to bring Chilean cherries to every city in China, so that every consumer can taste them. According to the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association, the country will export 131 million boxes (5 kilograms per box) of cherries in the 2025-2026 season, slightly higher than last year's export volume, of which more than 90% are expected to be shipped to China. Driven by the demand in the Chinese market, the Chilean cherry industry has flourished and has become the largest fruit planted in the country and an important economic pillar. Industry data shows that the cherry industry provides about 200000 job opportunities annually for the local area, accounting for one-third of the total employment opportunities in Chile's fruit industry. Marambio believes that the Chinese market has become a "rule shaper" of international trade, and fruit trade represented by cherries has become a demonstration industry for the two countries to establish a stable and long-term relationship. China is the largest customer of Chilean fruits. He stated that this important achievement is due to the cooperation between multiple departments of the two countries and is a concrete manifestation of the highly open Chinese market. We will not stop here, we hope to continue to improve and provide fresher and more delicious fruits, bringing unparalleled experiences to Chinese consumers, "said Marambio. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Chile and China, the 20th anniversary of the signing of the bilateral free trade agreement, and is" a year full of milestone significance. Nowadays, China plays an increasingly important role in the economic development of Chile, and bilateral relations have extended from trade cooperation to cultural level, especially in areas such as technology and energy transformation where significant achievements have been made. This is a truly win-win relationship, and we hope that the two countries will continue to deepen this cooperation in the future. ”Marambio said. (New Society)