Participants of the "Run with Yiwu" Global Youth Business Program take a group photo. [Photo/WeChat account: yiwuwaishi]

The "Run with Yiwu" Global Youth Business Program kicked off in Yiwu, East China's Zhejiang province on July 18, marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Republic of Korea.

The event, sponsored by the local government of Yiwu, the Embassy of South Korea in China, and the China-South Korea Friendship Association, gave South Koreans aged 18 to 35 a practical understanding of various fields such as e-commerce, international trade, and industrial supply chains.

During the opening ceremony, Yiwu Mayor Ye Bangrui welcomed all participants of the program.

Ye said that Yiwu, the so-called global capital of small commodities, has many advantages in international trade. South Korea is an important trading partner of Yiwu, which is home to among the most South Korean business people of any city in China. In 2021, foreign trade between Yiwu and South Korea exceeded $1 billion. Five South Korean cities have officially established partnerships with Yiwu.

Yuan Mindao, deputy director of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said that the exchanges carried out by Chinese and South Korean youth are expected to deepen their friendship and create a booming future for Asia.

The "Run with Yiwu" Global Youth Business Program initiated by the local government of Yiwu in April 2018 aims to share business opportunities and experiences with young people across the world through the Belt and Road Initiative.

Activities provided by the program include lectures on e-commerce and trade, site visits, company internships, startup workshops, and cultural exchange.