REQUINOA, Chile, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chilean Agriculture Minister Antonio Walker on Thursday officially kicked off the country's 2018-2019 export season by placing the final crate of cherries in a container bound for China.

"It's very exciting to seal off the first container that is going to China on a 35-day journey. For us, as a ministry, it's very exciting to signal the starting point, the initial kickoff, of this fruit season," Walker told reporters in Requinoa, some 100 km south of the capital Santiago.

Chile expects to export 18 billion U.S. dollars worth of agricultural products in this season, the minister said.

The South American country exports its agricultural products to more than 140 countries, with China as its leading trade partner and one of its top markets for its fresh fruits.

President of the Chilean Fruit Export Association Ronald Bown told Xinhua that the country earns about 1 billion dollars from exports to China alone.

Walker said his country intended to double agricultural exports over the next 10 years which would promote its development.