(Yicai Global) Jan. 7 -- Pinduoduo, China's Groupon-like e-commerce shopping platform, and the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile, have struck a cooperation deal on developing markets and promoting sales of Chilean cherries.

Pinduoduo kicked off its Spring Festival shopping event on Dec. 20 in the run up to China's lunar new year holiday that starts at the end of this month. Sales of Chilean cherries have already risen over threefold on the year, thanks to the Shanghai-based firm's 'red packet' gift vouchers to loosen buyers' purse strings.

Cherry orders will surpass one million units during the holiday promotion, Pinduoduo said. This year's buyers will be mainly in first- and second-tier cities, but the speed of growth of demand in third-tier and below cities will outstrip that of the urban behemoths, the company's statistics show.

"Through Pinduoduo, we will be able to more directly understand Chinese consumers' demands and thus provide even more superior imported fruit," said Ignacio Caballero, Asoex's assistant marketing manager responsible for promotional campaigns for Chilean fruit worldwide.

Editor: Ben Armour