Belt and Road Initiative brings foreign food to people's homes
2019-04-23
A food vender takes photos of oil and flour imported from Kazakhstan at a store for imported food in Urumqi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, April 12, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
Food of a particular place is an important symbol of local geographic and cultural characteristics. Food carries history and tradition, leads the tide of trade, strengthens diplomatic relations, disseminates and promotes culture. Food has been serving as connections between people around the world.
In ancient times, food such as grapes, pomegranates, walnuts, coriander, cucumbers and sesame seeds were introduced to China along the Silk Road. Nowadays, thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, red wine, coffee, dried fruits, meat, seafood, and dairy products from foreign countries enter the homes of ordinary people, turning daily meals into feasts with exotic cuisines.
A worker labels and packs avocados after quality check at an avocado packing plant in Uruapanat, in the state of Michoacan, Mexico, on June 3, 2017. Avocado is one of the most famous agricultural products of Mexico. In recent years, Mexico's export of avocados to China has grown rapidly. [Photo/Xinhua]
Bottles of wine imported from Montenegro are seen at the Yiwu International Trade City in Yiwu, East China's Zhejiang province, May 4, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
Tourists select dried fruits at the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, capital of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, April 24, 2017. The Grand Bazaar is a local landmark combining folk culture, ethnic commerce, tourism and entertainment. [Photo/Xinhua]
Bottles of honey are seen at Mpundu Wild Honey, a Chinese-run firm, in central Zambia's Kabwe town, on Nov 2, 2018. The firm has exported first consignment of honey to the Chinese market in October 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]
Farmers of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps air tomatoes at the Yanqi Basin area, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Aug 17, 2015.The air dried tomato produced in Xinjiang is popular among foreign markets for its high quality. [Photo/Xinhua]
A chef shows American lobsters at one of the Freshhema supermarkets in Shanghai, East China, Aug 8, 2018. It takes 36 hours at the earliest for the fresh lobsters from an aquafarm in Canada to be served on the dining tables of citizens in Shanghai after going through processes of transporting, inspecting, weighing, and selecting. [Photo/Xinhua]
A Syrian olive oil dealer (L) introduces products at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, East China, Nov 6, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]
Exhibitors of Swiss chocolate maker Heidi shows a bar of chocolate with the pattern reading "China" on its surface at the Food & Agricultural Products area of the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, East China, on Nov 7, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]
A worker checks and packs oranges at a packing factory located in Beheira, Egypt, on Jan 18, 2018. Thanks to the fast-growing demand in China for quality fruits, Egypt has witnessed a rapid increase in its citrus exports to China in the past years, which has led many Egyptian citrus farms to prosper. [Photo/Xinhua]
