Buyers select products at the Yiwu International Trade Market. [Photo/IC]

Twenty years ago, the "Yiwu Development Experience" became a model across Zhejiang province, transforming the county-level city into a celebrated development icon. With a focus on people, action, and adaptability, Yiwu has flourished, showcasing effective governance and a dynamic market.

In 2013, Yiwu piloted a new procurement trade model that significantly simplified procedures that previously required numerous customs declarations. Now, this single declaration, completed digitally in minutes and covering multiple goods, has been replicated across 22 provinces, stabilizing national foreign trade.

The city overcame logistical challenges by partnering with Ningbo-Zhoushan Port to create a seamless "inland station and seaport terminal" multimodal transport model that allows goods to reach the sea directly. It also launched the Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe freight train in 2014, opening direct land routes to Europe. The city currently connects over 50 countries and over 160 cities via 26 routes, playing a pivotal role in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Once a global manufacturing base without brand presence, Yiwu now empowers local businesses through its IP Industry Association, established in 2022. By securing exclusive rights to top-tier brands and implementing robust anti-counterfeiting measures, the association has upgraded over 7,000 products, bringing brand dividends to small- and medium-sized businesses.

Yiwu's successes are also due to proactive government-business relations. As the first county-level city to establish a government service hall within the Yiwu International Trade Market, Yiwu brings comprehensive services closer to local and international merchants.

Ye Bangrui, Party secretary of Yiwu, said, "The city remains committed to 'prosperity through commerce,' enhancing market systems, expanding trade channels, and optimizing trade structures."