BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- In recent years, China has built various forms of regional trade cooperation platforms, such as industrial parks, free trade zones and innovative business models, which facilitate economic and trade cooperation between China and related countries and regions and inject momentums to global development.
-- China-CEEC International Industrial Park
Launched in June 2020 in Yuyao, east China's Zhejiang Province, the industrial park for cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) has seen a total of 123 enterprises settled there and 11 projects signed with total investment of 6.29 billion yuan (about 868.6 million U.S. dollars).
Aerial photo taken on June 8, 2021 shows the main venue of the 2nd China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Expo in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
To attract projects and make them thrive, the industrial park has introduced a slew of measures, including building CEEC small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cluster and staging business matchmaking events with CEEC partners.
It also provides one-stop instruction and service to enterprises in the park, from signing contract, registration, project launch to construction and production.
It highlights technological innovation by launching scientific innovation platforms and enhancing exchanges and cooperation with research institutes in Europe.
Magnus Aircraft, a Hungary-headquartered aircraft manufacturer, settled in the industrial park in June 2021 to explore the huge market of Asia Pacific. The company has received manufacturing license from Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and is planning to build the branch into its Asia-Pacific headquarter featuring production, sales, maintenance and training.
"The industrial park focuses on CEEC cooperation, providing fitting industrial environment and supporting facilities, which perfectly meet our demands," said Li Qi, head of the branch.
-- China-ASEAN Business and Trade Platform
South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region plays the role of a hub in the trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Developed by China-ASEAN Information Harbor, the China-ASAEN digital platform for business and trade has integrated functions of trading, custom clearance, finance and logistics.
Thanks to the support of "Internet plus", the platform could enable real-time data collection and visualization, which reduces operation costs for enterprises, improves efficiency and fends off risks in trade.
With information of foreign trade enterprises, the platform could enable fast custom clearance by simply scanning, greatly raising efficiency of custom clearance and transportation.
Besides, the platform also integrated financial service, allowing enterprises to handle their financial affairs online, which has greatly saved their time.
Another part of the digital platform is cross-border logistics information. The China-ASEAN Pingxiang Logistics Park launched its logistics information platform in July 2020 to optimize and expand its logistics chain.
As of December 2021, the digital platform has covered 13 local markets in areas of Chongzuo, Dongxing and Baise in Guangxi, 16 port service centers, nine settlement banks and two third-party payment firms, with total turnover of 100 billion yuan.
Going forward, with technologies of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT), the platform developer will continue to build port smart information platform to push forwards Guangxi's transition from "channel economy" to "port economy" and to further integrate "port economy" with manufacturing and logistics industries, said Lu Dongliang, chairman and president of China-ASEAN Information Harbor.
--China-Africa Barter Trade Service Platform
The China-Africa Barter Trade Service Platform was built in January this year to facilitate China-Africa trade which was buffered by foreign exchange reserve shortage in African countries.
"Barter trade is a great solution for both Chinese and African enterprises, which will remarkably fuel the trade growth between two parties," said Chen Xihe, head of the platform developer.
The first deal of barter trade on the platform was conducted between South Africa's Takela company and a Chinese construction material company. Instead of direct payment of 4 million U.S. dollars, the Takela company paid with five containers of grapefruit.
Noting that the pilot is still in its initial stage, Chen added that the platform efficiency will be gradually improved as companies exporting to Africa have great potential in demand of barter trade.
A staff member is seen during the second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Sept. 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)
China-Africa trade volume exceeded 250 billion U.S. dollars in 2021 and China has remained as the largest trading partner of African countries for 13 consecutive years, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).
(Edited by Li Shimeng with Xinhua Silk Road, lishimeng@xinhua.org)
A single purchase
