China is the world's manufacturing powerhouse, with Yiwu at Zhejiang Province being the world's largest trade city for small commodities. Every year, over half a million traders come to Yiwu for sourcing small commodities. Nowadays, the city is embracing high-end manufacturing and rocketing onto the international stage.
As the platform and window for "made in China" products to the whole world, the city's primary wholesale market boasts 1.8 million kinds of goods and has business connection with some 200 countries. Duo Jia, the deputy mayor of Yiwu city, told CGTN that manufacturers here are turning to high-end products with unique and meaningful designs.
"Small commodities not only mean inexpensive products. We have also lots of products with added value, with more design, with more technology," the deputy mayor said, taking straws as an example, which are designed as environment-friendly products.
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"Our enterprises have innovation on the manufacturers… it also means 'made in China' is upgrading, manufacturing in China is upgrading. We have the biggest market in the world, and we see products upgrading," he added.
With foreign traders swarming into Yiwu, local facilities and regulations are being constantly updated to help them seek business opportunities in an easier way and provide them with a better living environment, the deputy mayor said.
Duo said Yiwu offers international guests lots of public services, the same as local citizens, and Chinese government grants them residence permits so that they can access the market easier.
"We have (an) inclusive community. As of last year, we have 15,000 foreign permanent residents in our city. They live in communities with local people, and have well integrated with neighborhood and organized lots of activities with local people together," he said.
Foreign families in Yiwu celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with local families – not only festivals, but more in daily life. "We have idea, inclusivity, not only for local people, Chinese people, but also for international guests all around the world," Duo added.