A variety of Xixiang's agricultural products are to be found in a specialty store in Qidong. [Photo/WeChat account: qdrmt0513]

Agricultural products from Xixiang county – under the jurisdiction of Hanzhong city in Northwest China's Shaanxi province – are nowadays doing roaring trade in Qidong, a county-level city administered by Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province.

That's in the wake of a pairing-assistance relationship struck between the two in April 2017, designed to help get the county out of poverty.

In December 2020, a specialty store was opened on Ziwei West Road in Qidong to boost sales of Xixiang's agricultural products and on Jan 13 this year the store moved to Renmin Road.

According to statistics, over 100 kinds of Xixiang products worth more than 14 million yuan ($2.2 million) were sold to Qidong last year.

The introduction of Xixiang's agricultural products has expanded the choice of foods available to Qidong locals, who are happy about the arrangement. Fresh food, grains and oils, mushrooms, agaric and other agricultural specialties have gained popularity in Qidong, according to Wang Yuzhi, who is in charge of the specialty store.

This year, online sales channels for Xixiang's products were added, making it even easier for Qidong locals to buy them.