A volunteer provides assistance at the Yiwu International Trade Service Center. [Photo/Tide News]

Among volunteers in Yiwu, a county-level city in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, a distinctive international presence shines — expats from around the world who actively participate in volunteer work, spreading the spirit across borders.

At the Yiwu International Trade Service Center, a team of over 30 international volunteers, from countries including Nepal and Malaysia, is a familiar sight.

To provide convenient services to global merchants, this volunteer team operates on a rotating schedule, ensuring at least one member is on duty every day. With their multilingual skills, they assist international merchants with inquiries, policy translations, and other services, effectively bridging language barriers in international trade.

In addition, many of these volunteers are entrepreneurs based in Yiwu. They share their own business experiences to help newcomers quickly integrate into the local business community.

Recently, a volunteer from Iraq launched an environmental protection initiative in the Jincheng community, encouraging residents to turn everyday waste such as water bottles and milk tea cups into small flowerpots. The community also organized more than 10 international volunteers to present handmade tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) to elderly residents.

"From the cultural outreach activities in Jimingshan community to the 'Foreign Street Manager Co-construction Plan' in Shangcheng community, these grassroots international volunteer projects showcase Yiwu's innovative governance practices," said Li Shan, deputy secretary of the Communist Youth League of Yiwu.