Shandong helps export-oriented products expand home markets

Local governments of east China's Shandong Province are stepping up efforts to help foreign trade enterprises to expand channels of domestic sales for their export-oriented products when external elements are trying to restrict their overseas marketing.

Over 300 foreign trade enterprises and more than 1,000 buyers from across China are gathering at an event in Jinan, the provincial capital, to promote export products' domestic sales, which opened in mid-May.

In a bid to streamline the domestic sales channels for foreign trade products, an efficient cooperation network was built with the government support, offering platforms for foreign trade businesses to shift their focus from exports to domestic market.

"We offer foreign trade companies the opportunity to enter the market within 24 hours. For products that are not up to the request of regulations with certain difficulties in, say, product labeling or barcodes, we will work with market supervision and food and drug regulatory departments to help them get these through quickly," said Xu Feng, president of Inzone Group Co., Ltd.

Not long ago, the Ministry of Commerce launched a nationwide campaign to promote quality foreign trade goods. Various regions have hosted events like exhibitions and consumption activities to display foreign trade products and connect supply with demand.

So far, over 9,000 foreign trade enterprises and buyers have participated, significantly boosting market confidence.

"China is a super huge market with a population of 1.4 billion, and our gross retail sales of consumer goods are close to 50 trillion yuan (about 6.96 trillion U.S. dollars). No matter how external situation changes, the domestic market remains a strong backing for foreign trade enterprises and the biggest cornerstone for them to cope with external shocks. We will continue to optimize the integration of domestic and foreign trade policies, help businesses switch smoothly between the two markets, and enhance their resilience and flexibility to better address external challenges," said Yang Mu, director of the Market Construction Department under the Ministry of Commerce.

Shandong helps export-oriented products expand home markets

Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on Monday.

As solemn music played and the golden doors slowly opened, Xi and Vucic entered the hall together, followed by Xi's wife Peng Liyuan and Vucic's wife Tamara Vucic.

Applauding guests rose to their feet, and paid respect to the two heads of state.

A Guard of Honor escorted the Friendship Medal into the hall, and amid solemn music, Xi formally presented the medal to Vucic.

Xi highlighted Vucic's long-standing commitment to advancing China-Serbia friendship and underscored the significance of the honor.

"President Vucic has long stayed committed to China-Serbia friendship, and he has always given China the firmest and clearest support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. He gains the respect from the Chinese people. This medal is not only a high recognition of President Vucic's contributions to bilateral friendship, but also carries the earnest expectations of both peoples for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi said.

The Friendship Medal is China's highest state honor for foreigners, reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace.

At the invitation of Xi, Vucic is on a state visit to China from Sunday to Thursday, with this marking his first state visit to China and his ninth trip to the country overall.

Xi awards Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic China's friendship medal