The city of Zibo in East China’s Shandong province has experienced steady growth in its foreign trade with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative during the first quarter of the current year, gaining 10.9 percent on the previous corresponding period.

That performance is higher than the overall foreign trade growth rate of the city by an impressive 22.6 percentage points – with those exports and imports topping Zibo’s overall increase by 8.9 percentage points and 36.8 percentage points, respectively.

In recent years, the metropolis has continued to maintain a strong growth momentum in its foreign trade with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

According to statistics from Zibo Customs, the city exported high-tech products worth 880 million yuan ($126.63 million) in Q1, a year-on-year increase of 24.6 percent.

Of that, exports to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative gained by a whopping 46.5 percent.

To help its specialist industries integrate into the markets in the countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, Zibo Customs has issued 14 measures to promote the transformation of new and old growth drivers – facilitating coordination between various municipal  departments – to solve the practical difficulties of businesses and expand their customer resources.

Furthermore, in collaboration with five departments – including the municipal commerce bureau and the municipal trade promotion association – the office has established a communications mechanism to resolve various challenges.

This is designed to make it easier for enterprises to promote their products and expand their commercial operations.

Customs officials carefully inspect exported apples. [Photo/zbnews.net]