Authorities from the northern Chinese city of Dalian recently hosted Chilean fruit exporters in a bid to rebuild trust following last year's customs investigations.

Various Chinese importers were accused of tax evasion and under-declarations of customs duties in importing fruit.

One of the most public cases involved importer Dalian Yidu, whose CEO Liu Zhi was questioned by police regarding imports of Chilean fruit.

But now authorities are trying to makes those issues a thing of the past by meeting with Chilean fruit exporters and showing how the port can be an excellent distribution base for northern China.

The head of the Jinpu New Area Administrative Committee, Dr. Zhang Shikun, told www.freshfruitportal.com the local government gave its full support to Dalian Yidu.

"Some time ago, Dalian Yidu was involved in a smuggling case in China," he said.

"The Chinese government suspected the company of wrongdoing and there were indeed many investigations into it, but as time has gone on it was shown to be a misunderstanding," he said.

"In the name of the Jinpu New Area Administrative Committee, we support Dalian Yidu."

Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) president Ronald Bown believes this kind of situation would likely continue throughout the Asian country as it underwent a 'structural change'.

"China is going through a structural change in the way that it does business, making the Hong Kong free trade zone compatible with the rest of China," he said, adding many importers had been made accountable for their actions.

During the event a cooperation agreement was signed between Bown and the head of the New District Cross-Border E-commerce Comprehensive Pilot Area, in order to facilitate Chilean fruit imports.

"This agreement with the Dalian area includes a port and an airport and will help us expand our opportunities in the Chinese market," Bown said.

Dalian is currently the fifth most important port for Chilean fruits in China, but officials said there was potential for it to move much higher.

ASOEX and Dalian Yidu are currently preparing a promotion for Chilean cherries next campaign, and are working to improve arrival conditions for kiwifruit.

Chilean Blueberry Committee president Andrés Armstrong highlighted the importance of having good cold storage facilities in China, adding he was pleased with the projects he had seen at the port.

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