APEC Stories: Thai durian's digital journey

Editor's note: The 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Gyeongju, South Korea, from October 31 to November 1. CGTN's "APEC Stories" series will showcase cooperation and culture of 21 APEC economies through visual storytelling.

Thailand, one of the world's top durian producers, exports large volumes of the fruit to China each year. In Chanthaburi province of Thailand, durian producer Kosai takes pride in running a smart orchard jointly developed by Thailand's Commercial Association for Sustainability of Agriculture (CASA) and China's Foreign Economic Cooperation Center (FECC) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

With Internet of Things devices installed by the Chinese side, including sensors that monitor weather conditions, water levels, and soil moisture, Kosai is cultivating high-quality produce with the most effective and sustainable use of the land.

In 2023, the FECC launched the Smart Farm Integrated Development Pilot Program in Thailand to promote digital transformation across orchard production, supply chains and marketing, strengthening agricultural trade between China and Southeast Asia. To help Thai durians reach more Chinese consumers, the FECC also partnered with Chinese e-commerce platforms to open online sales channels and hold livestreaming promotions.

China imported 1.56 million tonnes of durians in 2024, worth $6.99 billion – a record high, with nearly 60 percent coming from Thailand, according to official data.