A freight train departs from Yiwu, Zhejiang province to Poti in Georgia. [Photo/Zhejiang Daily]

Over the past decade, Yiwu has been actively involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, local media reported on Oct 17.

According to Yiwu Customs, from 2013 to 2022, Yiwu’s trade with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative reached 1.7 trillion yuan ($232.6 billion).

From January to August 2023, Yiwu's trade with these countries reached 231.56 billion yuan, marking a 26.6 percent year-on-year growth.

Over the past decade, China-Europe freight trains have been traversing the Eurasian continent, carrying 2.1 million types of commodities from the Yiwu market and bringing back over 100,000 types of goods from more than 100 countries, all converging at the Yiwu International Trade Market.

There are currently 19 international railway direct routes, with a cumulative round-trip operation of over 6,300 trains (departing from Yiwu) and a shipping volume exceeding 520,000 standard containers.

In the same period, the China-Europe freight trains have opened 19 operating routes, including to Spain and Turkiye, connecting with more than 50 countries and regions, reaching 101 foreign stations, and establishing multiple overseas distribution centers in Duisburg and Madrid.

The city of Yiwu has attracted over 9,000 registered foreign-funded entities, attracting 15,000 permanent foreign residents from more than 100 countries and regions.