According to statistics from Ningbo Customs, in the first quarter of this year, Ningbo’s total imports and exports with Belt and Road partner countries reached 174.24 billion yuan, marking a 14.7% increase compared to the same period last year (hereinafter the same), setting a new historical high for the same period. Of this, exports amounted to 106.33 billion yuan, reflecting a 21.7% increase, while imports totaled 67.91 billion yuan, showing a 5.2% growth.
In addition to the traditional European and American markets, countries jointly participating in the Belt and Road Initiative—including the ten ASEAN nations, South Korea, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and others—are all significant trading partners for Ningbo in the first quarter of this year. Ningbo is accelerating the integration of 'Made in China' with global demand.
1. Expanding the 'circle of friends'
"Last week, we secured an order from the Philippine Department of Education worth over $3 million!" On April 26, Li Dan, Manager of Import and Export Department II at Ningbo Huamao International Trade Co., Ltd., shared this exciting news remotely with reporters during the second phase of the 137th Canton Fair.
Li Dan's company has been a leader in the cultural and educational equipment industry for more than 40 years. Since 2021, the company has undertaken government procurement projects in ASEAN countries such as the Philippines and Thailand, enabling Chinese-made teaching instruments to support the transformation and modernization of local education systems. In the first quarter of this year, the company's exports of teaching instruments and equipment to the ASEAN market exceeded 2 million US dollars, reflecting a year-on-year increase of approximately 15%.
"We are also in the process of expanding our product line." For instance, the mortise and tenon wooden toys showcased at this Canton Fair caught the attention of many foreign buyers. A merchant from the ROK asked, 'Could we have some of every design?' Simultaneously, we are handling a project for a science museum in the Philippines, where we provide not only educational equipment but also a comprehensive design plan. It is expected to be delivered in the second half of the year, marking an expansion from selling products to offering services," said Li Dan.
The hard work and dedication of Li Dan and her colleagues have expanded Ningbo's foreign trade "circle of friends." Data shows that in the first quarter of this year, among Ningbo's exports to Belt and Road partner countries, M&E products and labor-intensive products were the main export commodities, with exports valued at 64.41 billion yuan and 18.41 billion yuan respectively, representing increases of 24.8% and 13.7% respectively.
While capitalizing on the export of competitive industries, another group of companies in Ningbo has ramped up imports of energy and minerals, further deepening economic and trade cooperation with Belt and Road partner countries. In the first quarter of this year, Ningbo imported 8.81 billion yuan worth of unwrought copper and copper materials from Belt and Road partner countries, reflecting a 17.4% increase; imported 6.43 billion yuan worth of basic organic chemicals, marking a 50.1% increase; and imported 6 billion yuan worth of primary shaped plastics, showing a 9.4% increase.
2. Make the Most of "Paper Gold"
Certificates of Origin, often referred to as "paper gold," are playing an increasingly pivotal role. It is a document certifying the place of production or manufacture of the goods and serves as an essential certificate for export enterprises to benefit from tariff reductions and other preferential treatments in importing countries.
In the first quarter of this year, Ningbo issued a total of 54,500 Certificates of Origin for exports to Belt and Road partner countries, with a visa value of 16.095 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 11.46% in the number of certificates and 10.6% in the visa amount. This not only demonstrates the enthusiasm of Ningbo enterprises in tapping into related markets but also indicates that more and more companies are fully capitalizing on policy benefits, turning free trade agreements into powerful tools for market expansion.
Ginlong Technology Co., Ltd. ranks as the world's third-largest photovoltaic inverter manufacturer, exporting its products to over 10 countries and regions, including Indonesia, Pakistan, and Malaysia. In the first quarter of this year, the company benefited from preferential treatment exceeding 110,000 yuan through the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Certificate of Origin, driving a year-on-year increase of approximately 30% in its export volume for the quarter.
"The grid-connected inverters we ship to Vietnam can enjoy zero tariff benefits thanks to the Certificate of Origin." This not only significantly enhances the market competitiveness of our products but also provides an important advantage in foreign trade negotiations. 'Vietnam and Thailand are key markets we are focusing on expanding,' said Bao Andan, a sales representative at Ginlong Technology. 'With the support of customs, we have gained a thorough understanding of the free trade agreement regulations and implemented self-printing of Certificates of Origin, which has greatly reduced our trading costs.'
According to a spokesperson from Ningbo Customs, China has currently signed 14 free trade agreements with Belt and Road partner countries involved in co-building the initiative, including agreements with ASEAN, Pakistan, Singapore, Chile, and Georgia. Among these, economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN has been further enhanced by the implementation of RCEP, bringing additional benefits in areas such as tariff reductions, rules of origin, and trade facilitation.
3. Establishing a New Platform
For Ningbo enterprises, exploring the markets of the Belt and Road partner countries offers opportunities not only through well-established events like the Canton Fair but also via new channels for cross-border e-commerce exports.
"Come on, join the Russian blue ocean market!" On the opening day of the 137th Canton Fair, Li Chen, a cross-border partner at Fuyao, was busy attending another foreign trade event in Shenzhen—the official launch conference of Russia's leading e-commerce platform Wildberries for 2025. As the head of the Ningbo branch of the Wildberries China Merchant Service Center, he aims to support more small and medium-sized enterprises in expanding their cross-border presence into Russia.
"Given the current state of foreign trade, many companies in Ningbo have realized the importance of diversifying their markets—'not putting all their eggs in one basket.' The 'Russian version of Taobao,' Wildberries, is an excellent platform for this purpose." Small home appliances, textiles and clothing, and auto parts manufactured in Ningbo can perfectly meet the light industrial product demands of Russia, a nation traditionally known for its heavy industry," Li Chen explained.
In addition to Wildberries, eMAG, Romania’s leading e-commerce platform, has established the Yangtze River Delta (Ningbo) Operation Center in Cixi. This center offers one-stop services including e-commerce operations, warehousing and logistics, and supply chain finance for cross-border exports. Social media platforms such as TikTok have paved the way for Ningbo-based companies to expand their content-driven e-commerce exports to ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Singapore.
More exciting is that the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair (hereinafter referred to as the 4th CEEC Expo) will take place in Ningbo from May 22 to 25 this year. This national exhibition, held right at the doorstep of Ningbo's residents, will significantly enhance bilateral trade, two-way investment, and cultural exchanges between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC).
It is reported that during the fourth China-CEEC Expo, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the General Administration of Customs (GACC), the All-China Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and other entities will host several high-profile events in Ningbo. These include the Ninth Meeting of the China-CEEC Joint Chamber of Commerce, the Seventh China-CEEC Customs Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation Dialogue, and the 2025 China-CEEC Mayors Forum, which are expected to yield a series of significant cooperative outcomes.
April 27, 2025, "Ningbo Evening News" (Reporters: Chen Bing, Huang Wei, Lin Miao)
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Ningbo Evening News. The Ningbo Evening News version shall prevail.