China's exports rose sharply in April, supported by its booming trade with more than 150 other countries and regions. In Yiwu, a major foreign trade city in east China's Zhejiang Province, businesses say the global customer base has provided resilience in times of uncertainty brought about by the tariff abuse of the U.S. administration.
It's mind-blowing just how many stores fill the Yiwu International Trade Market, the world's largest wholesale hub for small commodities. Someone has calculated that spending three minutes in each stall would take more than a year to visit the entire market.
It's best known for wholesaling low-price commodities such as accessories, hats and toys, the kind of stuff the U.S. badly needs from Chinese imports.
In light of the trade war, Christmas goods veteran Jiang Jiangping said that his company is weathering the storm peacefully.
"Here at the Yiwu small commodities market, in the Christmas category, we serve customers worldwide. The impact on us from the U.S. tariff hikes this time is minimal," Jiang said.
"I've been busy greeting many customers, including those from India, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, and Europe," he said.
China has been laying the groundwork for this future. One example is the freight train line that connects Yiwu all the way to London. But at the heart of it all is Yiwu's unbeatable price.
In addition, built on the strength of the unmatched supply chain, e-commerce is also thriving in Yiwu. Some newcomers to the city have built a successful business by selling to clients they reach through social media.
"When an order goes viral, we will get a lot of inquiries. These are all orders. 1,200 unread messages," said Xiaolu, a TikTok cross-border seller and also the organizer of Yiwu Cross-Border Study Tour as she showcased her phone.
Now, Xiaolu's team is organizing tours for others seeking new opportunities in a challenging economy.
"My confidence is rooted in Chinese manufacturing, its reputation and quality, and the vast overseas market. Just think about how big that market is. It's big enough for me and my business to weather economic cycles, to have stability, to have scalability, as long as I build a good team and we put in the work to fulfill every order, serve every client well and handle every request properly. I believe our business will only become more solid and sustainable," she said.
China's trade city Yiwu finds resilience in global customer base
The U.S. military strike against Venezuela and capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro, has shocked the international community, triggering a steady stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwide.
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain issued a joint statement on Sunday, expressing serious concern about and firm opposition to the U.S. unilateral military operations in Venezuela.
The U.S. actions contravene fundamental principles of international law, particularly the prohibition on the use or threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, as enshrined in the UN Charter, constituting an extremely dangerous precedent against peace and regional security, according to the statement.
In expressing profound concern and firm rejection, the six countries stressed in the statement that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, and through dialogue, negotiation and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law.
Only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic, sustainable solution that respects human dignity, according to the statement.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the U.S. raid in Venezuela as a violation of international law, adding that the Spanish government always advocates and defends international law and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Addressing a meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez demanded the unconditional and immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
Noting that Latin America and the Caribbean are a zone of peace, he expressed his firm opposition to the use of force, which is an unshakable principle.
Any aggression against Venezuela shall be regarded as an attack against all CELAC member states, and nations must collectively oppose it, he stressed.
The South African government denounced the U.S. attack on Venezuela as a violation of international law, according to a statement released on Sunday.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign states yield only instability and deepening crisis, the statement said.
South Africa calls on the UN Security Council to urgently convene a session to address this situation, according to the statement.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said what happened in Venezuela demonstrates that international law and the UN Charter are losing their practical effectiveness.
U.S. military action against Venezuela marks a dangerous precedent, as similar actions could be taken against any other nations, he said.
In addition, the foreign ministries of Namibia, Singapore, Oman and Pakistan also issued statements on the same day, expressing grave concern over U.S. interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.
They emphasized the need to uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter while respecting Venezuela's sovereignty.
They also called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the crisis through peaceful dialogue.
U.S. move against Venezuela sparks condemnation, concerns worldwide
