Ningbo's trade with Central Asia thrives

Ningbo, Zhejiang province is a thriving nexus of trade and innovation, pulsating with activity and fostering robust connections with Central Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative.

Amid the scorching summer heat, production lines at Ningbo Changer Electron Co Ltd are hives of activity. Refrigerators are neatly arranged on automated conveyor belts, processed, packaged, and steadily making their way down the production line, bound for Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, in Ningbo's Qianwan New Area, workers at a two-wheeled electric vehicle company load containers with over 200 electric bicycles, primed for shipment to Uzbekistan.

"With the Belt and Road Initiative forging ahead, China's pragmatic economic ties with the five Central Asian countries have yielded significant results," said an official of Ningbo Customs. "As a major export-oriented manufacturing hub, Ningbo continues to expand into the Central Asian market. Its labor-intensive and electromechanical products, known for their cost-effectiveness and reliable quality, are gaining popularity among Central Asian consumers."

Leveraging its robust industrial base and well-connected transportation network, Ningbo has also imported a variety of goods from Central Asia, including finished oil products, commodities, and copper materials.

According to Ningbo Customs, the total value of trade between Ningbo and the five Central Asian countries reached 2.38 billion yuan ($327 million) in the first five months of this year, marking a 22.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Exports were valued at 2.02 billion yuan, a 6.1 percent year-on-year growth, while imports surged to 360 million yuan, a nine-fold increase year-on-year.

To deepen economic ties with the five Central Asian countries, Ningbo Customs is implementing measures to facilitate cross-border trade, providing guidance on tariff classification, rules of origin, and other services to help reduce operating costs for businesses and ensure a smooth flow in the industrial and supply chains.