KUALA LUMPUR: Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has propelled "durian diplomacy" by serving homegrown durians to top leaders from Asean countries and China at the Asean-China Ministerial Roundtable on Construction and Housing (ACMROCH) 2024, aiming to foster warmer ties and fruitful collaboration between nations.
During the event, Nga showcased Malaysia's renowned durians to key leaders, including China's Housing and Urban-Rural Development Minister Ni Hong.
In a series of photos, Ni was seen visiting local durian stalls and savouring the creamy fruit. He also endorsed Malaysia's homegrown durian varieties, including Musang King and Red Prawn, in a brief conversation with Nga.
Nga highlighted that this exchange signifies a major milestone in elevating Malaysia's durians onto the global stage.
In 2023, durian exports from Asean countries such as Thailand and Vietnam to China exceeded RM21.6bil. Specifically for Malaysia, the export value of frozen durians to China surged from RM170mil in 2018 to RM1.19bil in 2023.
With the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Malaysia and China allowing for the export of fresh durians, Nga anticipates a substantial increase in Malaysia's durian exports, projecting a market value of RM5bil.
He commended the Madani government's initiatives, which are expected to bear fruit for local farmers.
ACMROCH 2024, chaired by Malaysia for the first time, facilitated extensive knowledge sharing, policy coordination, and the exploration of mutually beneficial opportunities for sustainable urban development.
Nga Kor Ming (right) with Hi Nong.
