China and Uzbekistan sign watermelon export-to-China protocol; 38 types of fruits and vegetables already approved for export to China, with 7 categories including apples and pears queued for market access

From September 15 to 17, Sun Meijun, Director of the General Administration of Customs, led a delegation to visit Uzbekistan. During the visit, the two sides officially signed the Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for Fresh Watermelon Exported from Uzbekistan to China and the Work Plan on Electronic Certification, giving Uzbekistan fresh watermelons a "pass" to enter the Chinese market.

In recent years, China-Uzbekistan agricultural trade has continued to heat up. At present, 38 types of fruit and vegetable products from Uzbekistan have been approved for export to China with a phytosanitary certificate. In 2025, melons, almonds and dried cherries were the first to join the list of exports to China; in 2026, the scope of access further expanded, with dried garlic, onions, beets, carrots, tomatoes, radishes, pumpkins, eggplants, zucchini and leafy vegetables approved one after another. In terms of fresh fruit, Uzbek cherries, melons, pomegranates, lemons, grapes, as well as stone fruits such as nectarines, plums and apricots, have all obtained access to China.

Customs statistics show that in 2025 Uzbekistan exported a total of 193,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetable products to China, with a value of about 210 million US dollars. The Chinese market has become one of the most important overseas markets for Uzbek fruits and vegetables.

It is understood that during the visit the two sides also held in-depth consultations on accelerating the phytosanitary approval process. In the next stage, 7 categories of products including apples, pears, onions, persimmons, dried figs, millet and sunflower seeds are expected to complete quarantine access one after another, further enriching the Central Asian fruit and vegetable choices on Chinese consumers' tables.