---
title: "Moldova opens China market to fresh cherry exports "
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/88917/moldova-opens-china-market-to-fresh-cherry-exports
published: 2026-11-04T12:30:00Z
language: en
author: "Raisa Lozinschi-Hadei"
section: "Economic"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Moldova opens China market to fresh cherry exports 

> Moldova has secured access to China’s market for fresh cherries after the two countries signed a phytosanitary protocol in Shanghai on Wednesday, paving the way for exports once requirements are met.

![Cristian Mîța](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/5e43e5f9-a9a3-4b3c-9d09-a99ec2244c81.jpg)

*Sursa: Cristian Mîța*

Moldova has secured access to China’s market for fresh cherries after the two countries signed a phytosanitary protocol in Shanghai on Wednesday, paving the way for exports once requirements are met.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/d6c01230-298c-4bf6-b671-35c2d25f7795.jpg)

**New export opportunities for Moldovan farmers**

The document was signed during the ninth meeting of the Moldova-China Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Shanghai. The Moldovan delegation was led by Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization Claudiu-Iulius-Gavril Năsui, while China was represented by Vice Minister of Commerce Ling Ji.

The protocol establishes the phytosanitary requirements that Moldovan producers and exporters must meet to sell fresh cherries on the Chinese market.

*“Opening this market represents an important achievement for our country and a genuine development opportunity for Moldovan producers. This step will help increase exports, strengthen local businesses and make better use of our farmers’ work,”* said Radu Musteața, Director General of the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA).

The two sides also agreed to complete the procedures required to sign a separate protocol governing exports of Moldovan honey to China.

Moldova's Ambassador to China, Petru Frunze, previously told Teleradio-Moldova that negotiations with Beijing were at an advanced stage to secure market access for both cherries and honey.

**Four solar power plants among proposed joint projects**

The Shanghai meeting also addressed opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy, infrastructure, information technology, the automotive industry, artificial intelligence and tourism.

Among the projects discussed was the construction of four photovoltaic power plants equipped with battery energy storage systems in the districts of Ialoveni, Cimișlia, Nisporeni and Călărași.

The delegations also examined plans to install solar panels at public healthcare facilities.

In tourism, the two countries discussed promoting each other's destinations, developing wine, gastronomic and rural tourism, and establishing direct partnerships between Moldovan and Chinese tour operators.

**Trade imbalance remains a major challenge**

China was Moldova's second-largest trading partner in 2025, accounting for 10.2% of the country's total foreign trade.

However, bilateral trade remains heavily skewed in China's favour.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Moldova imported goods worth $1.25 billion from China in 2025, equivalent to €1,118.0 million (approx. 22.6 billion MDL). Moldovan exports to the Chinese market totalled just $8.5 million, equivalent to €7.6 million (approx. 153.5 million MDL).

As a result, imports from China were approximately 147 times higher than Moldova's exports, highlighting the scale of the trade imbalance and the importance of opening new export opportunities for domestic producers.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/678460c4-13ae-49cf-8052-114e7dadd54e.jpg)

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