For the unfamiliar, durian is considered a delicacy in Asia, but is not universally beloved, much like Belt and Road itself: its smell is so rank and potent that it is banned on Singapore public transport, for example, while it tastes – to Euromoney anyway – like antiseptic cheese-infused custard with an aftertaste of a burnt-out hairdryer motor.
Anyway, in a three-minute animation, Little Thai shows us around her durian orchard in Thailand and explains how the Belt and Road has helped to improve the ability for her to be sold in China and turned into durian hot pot and durian pizza. “How wonderful the life is in China!” says Little Thai. “We are hailed as the king of fruits by our Chinese friends.” Little Thai also helpfully points out that durian exports from Thailand to China went up 700% last year, “as flourishing as my durian home.”
Breaking somewhat from its children’s cartoon persona, our durian friend continues in a sing-song voice: “Little Thai heard that the government of Thailand is actively seeking greater complementarity between the Belt and Road and Thailand’s strategic planning.”