Border ports in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region exported 75,800 tons of fruits and vegetables in the first half this year, according to customs officials in Urumqi, the region's capital.

Strict measures were imposed on July 15 to curb the spread of the recent COVID-19. Customs established a "green channel" for various locally produced fruits and vegetables, helping them quickly clear the export process and head to markets in Central Asia and Europe.

The export of fruits and vegetables via the Horgos port accounted for more than 51 percent of the total for Xinjiang. Nearly 90 percent of that was exported in June, an increase of nearly 51 percent from the previous month.

Yu Ruicheng, an official at the Horgos installation, said the port is cooperating with the local government to strengthen the monitoring of fruits and vegetables to ensure their quality and safety.

"The port and the local government have set up a rapid respond mechanism to guide enterprises to establish a self-inspection and self-control system that meets the quarantine requirements of the importing country. This improves the ability to deal with risks, and companies' exports increase as well," said Yu Huan, who has been in the fruit and vegetable export business in Horgos for many years.