"Each new species that enters China leads to an increase of hectares planted and more employment," said the Minister, after signing the protocol of entry in China within the framework of President Piñeras tour to the Chinese and South Korean markets, which included the participation of the President of ASOEX, Ronald Bown.

"We want to replicate in pears what we have achieved with cherries in the Chinese market." The Minister of Agriculture, Antonio Walker, was optimistic after the signing of the agreement that allows the opening of China for Chilean pears, and that was ratified in the framework of President Sebastian Piñeras tour to that country.

This agreement sets a precedent in relations between both countries, as China signed this protocol before making the last inspection visit, prior to the export of Chilean products.

The agreement allows the entry of some 8 varieties of pears without problems to that destination, wher the Abate Fetel, Packham, Forelle, and Bosc varieties stand out. Currently Chile has nearly 8,800 hectares of pears planted and during 2018 exports of this product amounted to US $ 128.5 million. The main buyers of Chilean pears are Colombia and Russia with US $ 19 million and US $ 16.7 million, respectively.

"This is another species that joins the basket of Chilean export products that can enter China without problems. This is a very important species for our country since it generates a lot of employment mainly in the Metropolitan, OHiggins, and Maule regions, and it has become very important since it is currently exported to Europe and, given that this is a limited market, this opens a great opportunity to decompress that destination," said Minister Walker.

In addition, this agreement speeds up the process of opening the Chinese market for Chilean citrus fruits, which, as Walker stated, is also good news for producers. "Now that the pear issue is finished, we can start the negotiation of citrus fruits, oranges, clementines, and lemons, which will positively impact the producers of the Metropolitan, Valparaiso, Coquimbo, and Atacama regions, as each species that manages to enter that country means there will be an increase in the hectares planted in Chile. An example of this is what happened many years ago with cherries, which today are one of the countrys star products," he said.

In China, per capita consumption of pears stands at around 12.4 kilos per year, a figure that increases year by year, and that is much higher than consumption in developed countries.