BEIJING, Aug. 1, 2026 - The People's Daily Overseas Edition devoted an entire page to Yiwu under the headline "Zhejiang Yiwu - A World Gathered Through Commerce, Foreign Merchants Connecting Five Continents." The feature highlighted Yiwu's transformation from a local market to the world's small commodity capital, where the motto "buy globally, sell globally" is a daily reality.
The article noted that Yiwu hosts over 15,000 resident foreign merchants from more than 100 countries, making it one of China's most internationally diverse cities. These foreign residents have found not just business opportunities but genuine community and belonging, with international schools, halal restaurants, and multicultural neighborhoods thriving alongside the trading ecosystem.
On the same day, Economic Daily reported that Yiwu's nationwide-first market procurement cosmetics export reform marked its first anniversary, with cumulative exports of 1,746 declarations valued at over 600 million yuan. The reform allows cosmetics from multiple production regions to be consolidated and exported through Yiwu with a single inspection, dramatically reducing time and costs for beauty product exporters. The人民日报 feature came as Yiwu's global profile continues to rise, with the city processing exports to over 230 countries.
Source: People's Daily, Economic Daily, Jinhua News, 2026
