The Portuguese association of pear growers, ANP, is for the first time exhibiting at the leading food and drink trade exhibition in China, the three-day Food & Hotel China show, which begins today in Shanghai, Lusa reports.

The Portuguese news agency quotes ANP President Domingos dos Santos as saying China has a huge population with great purchasing power and a taste for imported goods.

The purposes of exhibiting in Shanghai are to show off Portuguese pears and to set up a network in China to distribute them once they are allowed in, Lusa quotes Mr dos Santos as saying.

In May Lusa quoted the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Rural Development as saying negotiations about opening the Chinese market to Portuguese of pears, grapes and citrus fruit were at an advanced stage.