China is known as one of the world's leading exporters, but it's also establishing itself as a leading importer. Its growing middle class is being increasingly exposed to international trends, resulting in a greater demand for imported goods, such as food. In June, China reached a deal with Albania, in Europe's south-east, to buy more of its dairy produce. CGTN's Aljosa Milenkovic has more on this from the nation's capital, Tirana.

Albania is a country where agriculture thrives. Clean air and soil as well as a lack of industry helps produce organic and natural products. Now the country wants to capitalize on that by selling its products abroad, and China is in its crosshairs.

ALJOSA MILENKOVIC TIRANA, ALBANIA "Albania would like to offer to the demanding Chinese market, honey, livestock, meat and many other agricultural products. But it is the dairy industry that has the highest hopes of selling its milk and cheese in the one of the largest markets in the world."

Lufra is Albania's biggest and arguably the best dairy producer. It's located some 100 kilometers south of the capital Tirana, and it's proud of the modern technology it uses to process milk.

Just recently a delegation returned from China, where it reached agreement on representation at the China International Import Expo.

LUIS DREKA COMMERCIAL MANAGER, LUFRA DAIRY PRODUCTION "They were looking for honey, a lot, for meat, and also for cheeses. Different types of cheeses. So, that's what we are preparing to export to China. For the moment we produce three types of cheeses. Two of them are white and one is yellow, the one that is on my back."

Lufra is one of two Albanian companies that will appear at that expo. The other one will offer honey and other honey products. But this is just a beginning. The first small steps that should open more doors for exports to China.

PJERIN SHOSHI DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS, ALBANIAN MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE "The products that we export today to China are mainly medicinal plants, wine and some others. As a ministry, we are making efforts to give a new exporting impulse to animal products: meat, dairy products and honey. We are in negotiations with China to sign a quarantine protocol that will allow the trade of these products between both sides."

According to 2016 figures, Albania has significant trade deficit with China.

The Albanian government hopes that opening the Chinese market for agriculture products will help reduce that deficit.

Aljosa Milenkovic, CGTN, Tirana.