This newspaper reports that according to information from relevant municipal departments yesterday, the 2015 China Yiwu Imported Commodities Fair will be held from June 4 to 7 at the Yiwu International Expo Center. Themed “Promoting Connectivity and Sharing China’s Opportunities,” this import fair aims to lead the trend in import trade and is committed to establishing itself as China’s premier import fair for daily consumer goods.
The Birth of the Imported Commodities Fair
The Yiwu market covers a business area of over 5.5 million square meters, with more than 75,000 business stalls, offering over 2.1 million types of products across 26 major categories. Nearly 500,000 overseas merchants visit Yiwu for procurement each year, with around 14,000 expatriate merchants from over 100 countries and regions residing in Yiwu. Goods are exported to 219 countries and regions, and the market’s outward orientation exceeds 60%. It has been hailed by authoritative institutions such as the United Nations and the World Bank as the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities.
As described in Episode 7 of the popular CCTV documentary "Silk Road: The Journey That Begins Anew," titled "Parting East and West": historically, the starting point of the Silk Road was in Xi'an; today, Yiwu boasts the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities, and the Silk Road connecting East and West has risen again, making Yiwu the undisputed new starting point of the modern Silk Road.
Yiwu Is Transitioning Toward Balanced Trade
Currently, Yiwu is transitioning from an export-focused trade model to one that equally emphasizes exports and imports. In recent years, the city has placed great importance on import trade. It has established various import-focused venues including the Import Commodities Pavilion in Zone 5 of the International Trade City, the Import Commodities Pavilion at the Yiwu Non-Staple Food Market, and the Korea Import Fashion City at the Huangyuan Clothing Market. In 2014, import commodity sales exceeded 6 billion yuan. This year, the municipal Party committee and government have introduced a series of support policies to vigorously foster the import market and promote the Yiwu import trade brand. Thus, the 2015 China Yiwu Imported Commodities Fair has emerged as a timely initiative.
An Important Vehicle for Developing Import Trade
Supported by the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province, and jointly organized by the China Chamber of International Commerce, the China General Chamber of Commerce, and the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing, this edition of the fair is hosted by the Department of Foreign Trade Development of the Ministry of Commerce, the Exhibition Department of the China Chamber of International Commerce, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce, the Zhejiang Sub-Council of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the Yiwu Municipal People’s Government. The exhibition will feature over 1,800 standard booths, covering an area of more than 50,000 square meters. Exhibits will include imported household goods, food and beverages, handicrafts and accessories, apparel and accessories, cross-border e-commerce, and international trade service providers.
The city regards the Imported Commodities Fair as a key platform for developing import trade. Through the integration of exhibitions and trade, it seeks to gather import trading entities, import goods, and import trade service enterprises in Yiwu, continuously optimize and improve the import trade industry chain, and drive the transformation of Yiwu’s trade model toward balanced emphasis on exports, imports, and entrepot trade.
A Leading National Event in Its Category
The 2015 China Yiwu Imported Commodities Fair is the only exhibition in Yiwu themed around imported consumer goods. Closely aligned with the national “Belt and Road” strategy and centered on economic and trade objectives, the event focuses on second- and third-tier brand products from small and medium-sized enterprises abroad, aiming to develop into China’s top brand for imported daily consumer goods fairs within a short period.