Tourists shop and explore in the toy-themed section of District 1 at Yiwu International Trade Market in Zhejiang province. [Photo by Wang Zhijin for chinadaily.com.cn]

Yiwu in East China's Zhejiang province has seen growing trade with other member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in recent years.

According to Yiwu Customs, the city's imports and exports with SCO members via China-Europe freight trains reached 5.27 billion yuan ($738.46 million) in the first seven months of this year, up 20.4 percent year-on-year.

Russia has become Yiwu's fastest-growing trading partner among SCO members. From January to July, Yiwu's trade with Russia through freight trains totaled 1.44 billion yuan, surging 160.9 percent compared with the same period last year.

Local traders said Russia has become a key destination for Yiwu's toy exports. Customized products such as interactive dolls capable of recognizing Russian-language commands have been particularly popular, as they are tailored to consumer demand.

Exports from Yiwu to SCO members have diversified significantly. What began with small consumer goods now includes auto parts, machinery, building materials, and other high-value products from emerging industries.

Inbound freight has also enriched daily life in China. Imports now range from Russian timber to electrolytic copper, copper ingots, and aluminum from Uzbekistan and other countries, as well as barley, wheat, and wheat bran pellets from Kazakhstan. These bulk commodities have become mainstays of return freight, underscoring the two-way benefits of the growing trade.