Jinhua nut carvings are presented at the 8th China International Import Expo. [Photo/Jinhua bureau of commerce]

The 8th China International Import Expo commenced in Shanghai on Nov 5. The trade delegation from Jinhua, Zhejiang province, has made a strong presence, with over 3,000 registered enterprises and over 8,000 professional visitors, marking a new high in scale, according to the city's bureau of commerce.

Sixteen Jinhua enterprises attended the parallel session on AI-driven digital economic innovation at the 8th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in the afternoon.

Jinhua Hfun-Tech Co has developed humanoid and quadruped robots applicable to business reception, industrial inspection, and logistics distribution. "We look forward to meeting suitable partners at the CIIE," said Xu Yekuang, senior marketing director of the company.

Jinhua Fengyun Import and Export Trading Co began exploring a new form of barter trade last year, importing frozen chicken feet and wings from Belarus and exporting frozen chicken breasts.

During the expo, the company signed a procurement agreement worth 100 million yuan ($14.04 million) with Belarusian agricultural firm Servolux Group.

Additionally, Jinhua's cultural heritage is showcased at Zhejiang's cultural exchange exhibition area during the CIIE, featuring nut carving, tin carving, traditional Chinese tea-making techniques, and Wuzhou Kiln porcelain firing techniques.

Bao Jiahui, a master artisan of nut carving, presented over 500 works, blending traditional elements like dragon and local specialties like fingered citron. Last year, 200 pieces were sold in three days at the expo, attracting buyers from New Zealand and the Middle East. This significantly boosted the global reputation of Jinhua nut carving.

"This year's products span 300 categories, showcasing the charm of Jinhua nut carving," said Bao. His company has reached a cooperative agreement with the Shanghai Cultural Assets and Equity Exchange at the expo to help promote this intangible cultural heritage.