Linyi, Shandong RCEP Expo Amplifies Strong International Voices

From April 20 to 22, the 5th RCEP Regional (Shandong) Import Commodities Expo was held in Linyi. Covering an exhibition area of 35,000 square meters, the event featured 18 country pavilions and 1,200 international-standard booths. During the expo, approximately 35,000 visits were recorded. Its overall scale, level, and outcomes all reached record highs compared with previous editions.

This year marks the fifth consecutive year that Linyi has hosted the expo. With 447 exhibiting companies from 48 countries gathering and 339 international buyers from 36 countries moving throughout the venue, what Linyi showcased on the global stage was not only the determination of an inland city to pursue transformation and opening-up, but also the confidence and strength of the Yimeng revolutionary old base area in integrating into the global trade landscape. “Linyi is a very forward-looking city. No matter what your needs are in business or products, they can be met here. Linyi is the best choice,” said MAKA, head of the China Grand Market Foreign Business Club.

On April 21, buyers from the Penang Hardware & Machinery Association of Malaysia visited the China Linyi Small Commodities City, the Educational Supplies Base, the Sports Goods City, and the Light Industry & Labor Protection Products City for on-site inspections and business matchmaking. “On the first day, we visited the RCEP exhibition hall. Today, we came to markets for labor protection products, hardware, and building materials. There are many excellent products in Linyi, and we hope to bring them to Malaysia as soon as possible,” said buyer Zheng Qinglü. Su Yushan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Foreign Market Development under Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, was visiting Linyi for the first time and was impressed by the city’s urban development and commercial logistics. “Linyi is a beautiful city, and this expo is very well organized. It brings together many high-quality products from RCEP countries, allowing buyers to source everything they are interested in through one-stop procurement,” he said. In addition to procurement, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade also organized several companies to exhibit at the expo, mainly showcasing specialty agricultural products such as coffee, cashews, and star anise. Nguyen Thi Cam Tu, an official from the Department of Foreign Market Development, expressed the hope that through the Linyi expo, Vietnamese products will become better known and more widely appreciated. During the expo, the China (Linyi)–Botswana Investment and Cooperation Promotion Conference was held concurrently. Cooperation between the two sides in fields such as mining, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure is now moving from blueprint to reality.

In recent years, as Linyi’s commercial markets have accelerated their global expansion, locally produced goods have been increasingly recognized and accepted by international buyers. Among them, Shandong Chunwang Food Technology Co., Ltd., a regular participant in the RCEP Expo, returned again this year. Cao Hongcai, Deputy General Manager of the company, said: “Each time we participate, the results are very positive. Last year, we prepared products for three days, but they were sold out within a single afternoon, and we had to urgently restock four or five times.” “Linyi boasts a highly developed commercial and logistics system, which is exactly why we chose the city,” said Xiao Dong, Foreign Economic Advisor to the Linyi Municipal Government and President of the Australia-Asia Chamber of Commerce. He added that there are plans to establish an office in Linyi to bring more Australian products into China while also exporting Linyi products to Australia.