Flower Market: Yunnan flowers flourishing in Bangkok
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The flowers from Yunnan in southwestern China are more than just beautiful. They're a global ambassador of the province's rich culture and agricultural development. Thanks to the transformative Belt and Road Initiative, flowers from Yunnan are now flourishing in Bangkok, Thailand. The flowers are transforming markets and strengthening ties between the two nations. Our correspondent, Dusita Saokaew reports from Bangkok. 

In a tale as vibrant as its petals, the journey of Yunnan's flowers to Bangkok has become a living metaphor for beauty transcending borders. Yunnan's flowers have adorned altars, weddings, and festivals within China. Yet, until recently, their reach was limited by geography and infrastructure.

Enter the Belt and Road Initiative. When the Kunming-Bangkok Expressway unfurled its smooth lanes across rugged terrain, a new chapter began. Trucks laden with freshly cut blooms now glide from Yunnan's cool highlands to Thailand's tropical embrace in just a few days. 

DUSITA SAOKAEW, Bangkok "Fortunately, for Thais like myself, thanks to newly built expressways and modernized customs agreements between China and Thailand, these flowers from Yunnan now arrive here in record time. A journey that once took weeks has been reduced to mere days, preserving the delicate allure of these fresh-cut flowers."

This is China's biggest market- almost 30% of fresh-cut flowers are currently exported to Thailand. And this could be just the beginning.

VIKROM KROMADIT, Chairman, Thailand-China Business Council "I think that highway in Thailand we call Asia Highway, always connecting ASEAN and connect to China. The option to have the the speed train is always you make additional of the logistics support. So, if you have you know that go together by the BRI, I think that it will be more value added and then it will be made more efficient."

The transformation was not merely logistical. Advanced cold chain technology ensures the flowers arrive in pristine condition, their petals unblemished and vibrant.

At Bangkok's Flower Market, vendors now display Yunnan fresh-cut flowers, beside local orchids, lilies and sunflowers, creating a kaleidoscope of endless arrangements. 

PHATCHAMON SAELAO, Florist "Roses are very popular, especially red roses. The carnations also sell well as they are long lasting. When they are in a bouquet they can last for a long time. So, customers like them. The Chinese's use of cold container transportation services extends the life of the flowers."

But it's the roses, rich with the scent of Yunnan's highlands and bathed in the hues of dawn, that are captivating Thai florists and buyers alike.

THANCHANOK SRITHANEADCHAI, Buyer "Last week I bought some roses. They lasted so long that I came back to buy some more. I bought imported roses because the colors are beautiful."

Each petal, vibrant and unyielding, carries the legacy of mountains crossed and borders bridged. In their bloom lies a simple notion, that beauty transcends boundaries, and a shared future can blossom from the smallest of seeds.

Dusita Saokaew, CGTN, Bangkok, Thailand.