Wenzhou businesspeople embark on a chartered flight for Milan, Italy on Dec 12. [Photo/66wz.com]
A chartered flight carrying groups of ambitious businesspeople departed from Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, for Milan, Italy on Dec 12, local media outlets reported.
It was the first business flight organized by the local government since the country eased regulations on COVID-19 and encouraged people to gradually shift back to normal life.
As Milan is home to large groups of Chinese people and carries out frequent business exchanges with China, it was chosen by Wenzhou, the leader of the Chinese private sector, as the starting point for resuming business overseas and unleashing more development potential.
"I was about to fly from Hangzhou to Milan three days ago. I immediately canceled my ticket after hearing the news that the government will organize a chartered flight," said Chen Zengjie, chairman of a garment company in Wenzhou’s Wencheng county and president of the overseas Chinese association in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
"I will not only bring the good news about my hometown to fellow citizens in Italy, but also pave the way for more Wenzhou enterprises to do business in Italy in the future," Chen said.
Wenzhou currently has about 700,000 residents living in 131 countries and regions across the world, more than any other city in China, with many of them residing in France and Italy.
