Agricultural enterprises in Guangdong are accelerating production to meet international demand, with fresh flowers from Wengyuan County's orchid growers being prepared for shipment through global logistics channels. In Lianjiang, Zhanjiang, orange farmers anticipate a bumper harvest in 2025. Golden Lianjiang red oranges can reach Malaysian supermarket shelves within just three days of harvesting via dedicated "green channels." Hundreds of kilometers away in Yunfu's Yunan County, refrigerated trucks carrying 25 tons of sugar oranges traveled through the night, marking the first time the fruit entered Singapore with dual certification for both cultivation and processing.
These developments illustrate Guangdong's agricultural sector embracing global markets since the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) took effect. From western Guangdong's red soil to ASEAN dining tables, the province's agricultural transformation extends beyond simple exports, evolving from local specialties to international commodities and from individual efforts to fully integrated supply chains.
Policy advantages have opened significant opportunities since RCEP's implementation on January 1, 2022. As a major agricultural province and foreign trade hub, Guangdong's strategic position in the Greater Bay Area enables it to capitalize on RCEP's benefits. These advantages manifest concretely through certificates of origin that generate substantial savings. At Zhaoqing Zhenye Aquatic Products' processing plant, workers prepare 3.9 tons of frozen catfish fillets for shipment. General Manager Han Changjiang noted that tariff reductions have significantly enhanced export competitiveness.
In 2025, Zhaoqing issued 892 RCEP certificates of origin covering approximately 227 million yuan, representing year-on-year increases of 13.1% and 8.9% respectively. Over four years, local enterprises have benefited from about 800 million yuan in preferential export values. Professor Chen Longjiang of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies observed that 69 agricultural products from the Greater Bay Area received direct export boosts from tariff reductions in RCEP's first year, with further growth potential emerging.
Guangdong's innovative "Media+" initiative facilitates market expansion in RCEP member countries. Through platforms like TikTok, companies directly showcase specialty products including prepared foods and agricultural items to international consumers. This approach extends beyond digital spaces to physical venues like the "RCEP National Pavilion·Suixi Gallery" in Shenzhen, where live streaming teams promote products seamlessly integrating offline displays with online sales.
Meeting international standards represents a critical requirement for global market access. Historically, many high-quality Guangdong agricultural products remained confined to domestic markets due to incompatible quarantine standards or lack of origin certification. This situation is now changing dramatically. In Lianjiang, the red orange industry spent decades establishing quality consistency. By implementing standardized cultivation methods including unified rootstock selection, fertilizer management, and green pest control, growers have increased yields by 15% and premium fruit rates by 20 percentage points through smart irrigation and precise nutrient management.
This quality consistency enabled Lianjiang red oranges to resume exports after a 20-year hiatus, with overseas orders increasing 70% this season. Yunnan County's Yueshengfeng Agricultural Development achieved dual certification for both cultivation and processing, allowing direct shipment of 25 tons of sugar oranges to Singapore in January. The standardization revolution extends to aquatic products, with Zhaoqing's Zhenye Aquatic successfully exporting frozen catfish to Singapore by mastering RCEP members' technical regulations.
In Mazhang District, known as China's hub for prepared aquatic products, collaboration with Guangdong Ocean University has advanced freshness preservation technology, establishing end-to-end quality control systems that enabled products like marinated golden pomfret to penetrate Southeast Asian markets.
The transition from selling products to exporting value creates sustainable agricultural development. Lianjiang's red orange industry demonstrates this through deep processing that yields over 20 products including juice, pastries, and snacks, utilizing even peels and residue to achieve full industrial chain value exceeding 2.5 billion yuan. This chain supports 8 leading enterprises, 57 cooperatives, and nearly 100,000 workers.
Guan Xiyun, head of Lianjiang Fengyuan Red Orange Cooperative with four decades of experience, has not only improved his own orchard's efficiency but also assisted 120 households through technical training and employment opportunities. Industrial upgrading has benefited thousands of farmers across the region.
Internationalization fosters cultural exchange alongside commercial growth. Beka, Guangdong representative for the Georgian Chamber of Commerce, introduces Georgian wine to China while exporting building materials and furniture to Georgia, personally developing appreciation for Guangdong cuisine. Mazhang District leverages cultural elements by partnering with American Chinese food media to select top local products for North American markets, while featuring specialty items on China Southern Airlines' cross-border platform to transform regional specialties into international gifts.
Industrial vitality attracts returning talent and revitalizes rural areas. University graduate Liu Zhihao returned to Lianjiang to build an e-commerce business distributing red oranges nationally, while Long Qixiang maintains thousand-acre orchards and develops cultural IPs. A new generation of agricultural professionals is revitalizing the countryside with modern approaches.
Since RCEP's implementation, Guangdong's agricultural expansion represents a significant chapter in global engagement. As noted by Guangdong Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs officials, the province leverages the Greater Bay Area's unique advantages through standardized production, platform development, technological empowerment, and cultural integration to accelerate brand development and international upgrading. This journey exemplifies Chinese agriculture's participation in global supply chain restructuring and high-quality development.
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