A foreign merchant volunteers to donate blood in Yiwu, Eastern China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

Expats from more than 30 countries and regions took part in the 4th Blood Donation Day in Yiwu, Zhejiang province on July 15.

Thanks to the participation of 500 foreign merchants, the volume of blood collected on the day reached 31,960 millimeters. Many of the participants can speak some Chinese, and even Yiwu dialects.

"This is the third time I've signed up for the annual event, which means a lot for both me and whoever will receive my donation," said a Nepalese merchant who just donated 400 millimeters of blood.

Having been conducting business in Yiwu for six years, the Nepalese thought such events can help expats like him fit in Yiwu's international community.

"A lot of foreign merchant associations and groups had been trying to participate since June 14 when the event just started to begin," said Hu Wenjian, deputy director of the municipal blood station.

Over the past four years, a total of 3,361 volunteers have donated over 1 million millimeters of blood.

The Blood Donation Day was sponsored by the International Family under the municipal commerce bureau, and organized by 35 merchant associations from South Korea, Sudan, India, and other countries.

The number of participants will continue to grow as Yiwu's business environment and healthcare service both improve.

Volunteers line up at the opening ceremony of the 4th Blood Donation Day in Yiwu on July 15. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

Foreign merchants take blood tests before donating their blood. [Photo/zgyww.cn]