China may import one third of Thai longan produce: Thai official

China may become one of Thailand's largest importers of fruits this year, with a plan to purchase up to 200,000 tons of Thai longans later this year, a senior Thai official has said.

China is likely to place the order of Thai longans when Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visits Beijing later this year, Chairman of the House of Representatives' Agriculture Commission, Pairote Suwanachawee, was quoted Saturday by the Thai News Agency as saying.

"Chinese importers have expressed their interest in purchasing Thai longans to the large amount, and I believe they will place the orders during the prime minister's forthcoming visit to China, " Pairote said Friday.

The order would account for about one third of Thailand's total longan produce of 600,000 tons this year, said Pairote, an MP of the ruling Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party.

Thaksin plans to visit China later this year to discuss a further step of the Sino-Thai Free Trade Area (FTA) Agreement, which has been implemented since last year.

Source: Xinhua