Qingtian, a mountainous county in Lishui, Zhejiang province, is leveraging its unique "overseas Chinese charm" to become an international trading hub.

Over 380,000 overseas Chinese with a 300-year history of migration have laid a solid foundation for this transformation, embodying the spirit of entrepreneurship and patriotism.

The county has established platforms like the Qingtian Imported Commodity City, offering over 100,000 products. Building on this, the annual Overseas Chinese Imported Commodity Expo (OCICE), a key provincial-level event, has helped to facilitate trade.

The 7th OCICE from Nov 14 to 16 will feature over 30,000 products from 1,100 companies, with 70 percent being international exhibitors.

Qingtian is also pioneering a dual-circulation model, facilitating both imports and exports. It focuses on introducing niche European brands and has upgraded 119 overseas warehouses owned by Qingtian natives into trade hubs.

An export promotion event in April 2025 resulted in 36 prospective cooperation projects. Regular online meetings connect local producers with overseas Chinese merchants, leading to successful deals like the export of local rice noodles and furniture.

This vibrant trade is reflected in strong growth. From January to September 2025, Qingtian's foreign trade reached 4.25 billion yuan ($599 million), increasing 33.5 percent year-on-year. Exports totaled 3 billion yuan, up 32.9 percent.

Digital innovation is key, with this year's OCICE to feature AI digital anchors and AR tours of overseas wineries.

Institutionally, Qingtian has implemented a comprehensive service system for overseas Chinese, including dedicated service days and centers, to continuously strengthen the synergy between its global diaspora and local development.