Vietnam and China have formalized trade for Vietnamese lemons and pomelos, with a protocol signed on 15/4 during General Secretary and President To Lam's state visit. This agreement, signed by Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and China's General Administration of Customs (GACC), outlines phytosanitary requirements for the two fruits. It marks the culmination of technical negotiations initiated in 2019, underscoring both nations' drive to establish official, transparent, and standardized agricultural trade.

To qualify for export, pomelos and lemons must originate from registered growing regions and packing facilities. These facilities require approval from both Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and GACC, and must adhere to pest control standards. The entire production, harvesting, and packing process must ensure proper sorting, cleaning, and the removal of damaged fruit and impurities prior to shipment.

Vietnam possesses a significant advantage in producing both lemons and pomelos, particularly pomelos, with cultivation spanning approximately 106,000 hectares. Recent years have seen expanded production and improved quality, meeting market demands. China, a large and stable fruit consumer market, presents a prime opportunity. With several other Vietnamese agricultural products already successfully exported, pomelos and lemons are poised to rapidly increase their market share, leveraging Vietnam's reliable supply and quality.

Green-skinned pomelos at a processing facility in former Ben Tre (now Vinh Long). *Photo: Thi Ha*

The protocol's signing extends beyond simply opening new market avenues for agricultural products; it also drives higher production standards, quality control, and traceability, fostering sustainable exports. Moving forward, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will collaborate with local authorities and businesses to implement these regulations, further developing growing regions and packing facilities to meet Chinese requirements.

Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, highlighted the significance of this market opening. He stated, "The opening of the Chinese market elevates the status of Vietnamese pomelos and establishes China as the commodity's fifth market destination." In 2025, pomelo exports reached approximately 70 million USD, with further growth anticipated from this expanded market access. Last year, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export turnover surpassed 8.56 billion USD, marking a nearly 20% increase from 2024. The Chinese market alone accounted for about 5.5 billion USD, representing over 64% of the total export value and acting as a key driver for the industry's overall growth.

General Secretary and President To Lam, accompanied by his spouse, is undertaking a state visit to China from 14-17/4, at the invitation of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and his spouse. This visit is notably President To Lam's first to China since assuming his new role. The broader context of this visit underscores robust bilateral trade relations: in 2025, China was Vietnam's largest trade partner, while Vietnam held the position of China's largest trade partner within ASEAN and its fourth-largest trade partner globally by country.

Thi Ha