A TEU container is unloaded at a port in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/66wz.com]
Wenzhou in East China's Zhejiang province was on Nov 4 listed by the provincial foreign trade initiatives leaders' office as a demonstration area in implementing high-level opening-up and cooperation under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement.
To expand into the markets of RCEP member countries, Wenzhou has rolled out a number of plans to boost positive interplay between domestic and international economic flows.
For example, it has opened near-sea cargo shipping lines to countries and regions such as the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia and direct air cargo routes to Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul and Manila. It has also worked out a list of six important international expositions in RCEP countries this year and invited local enterprises to take an active part in the events.
The local commerce bureau has also arranged 13 training sessions on RCEP-related topics for over 5,000 people to help them and their enterprises better benefit from RCEP preferential policies.
Statistics show that from January to September this year, Wenzhou generated 66.49 billion yuan ($9.17 billion) in foreign trade with RCEP countries, growing 38.75 percent year on year. The city has also realized over $5 billion in pilot exports of market procurement trade, ranking second in Zhejiang. Exports to RCEP countries accounted for nearly 70 percent of this figure.
Wenzhou enterprises have set up two industrial parks in RCEP member countries. The one in Indonesia's Weda Bay in particular is considered very good. Moreover, local enterprises have set up eight overseas marketing network programs, including two overseas public warehouses in Japan and Australia, respectively.
