On 21 October 2017, the opening ceremony of the 23rd China Yiwu International Commodities Fair was held at Yiwu International Expo Center. The Fair was co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China, the People’s Government of Zhejiang province, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, China National Light Industries Council and China General Chamber of Commerce, and organized by the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang province and Yiwu Municipal People’s Government. Mr. Sheng Qiuping, Member of the Standing Committee of Jinhua CPC Committee and Secretary of Yiwu CPC Committee, delivered remarks at the opening ceremony. Participants from governments, international organizations, commercial sectors, exhibitors, media and diplomats from 21 diplomatic missions in China participated in the event. The five-day Fair set up 4,100 standard booths covering 14 sectors, and eight special exhibition areas including the ones named “Made in Zhejiang”, “Intelligent Life Style”, etc. The Fair possessed the total exhibition area of 100,000 ㎡,and attracted more than 2,200 exhibitors.
On 20 October 2017, Yiwu Municipal People’s Government organized a local field trip themed “Yiwu in the Eyes of Foreign Diplomats”, which was one of the important side events of the 23rd Yiwu Fair. The participating diplomats were invited to visit the Departure Station of China-Europe Freight Train, International Trade Mart, HC SEMITEK Corporation, and attend the discussion of “Dialogue on Promoting Common Development for Mutual Benefits and Win-Win Results” that is aimed at promoting the local economic and social development as well as the progress of key projects. The participants made extensive exchanges on production capacity cooperation, import trade and China Railway Express, etc., and gave their opinions and suggestions on enhancing the internationalization level of Yiwu. The atmosphere was warm. Upon the invitation, ASEAN-China Centre sent its representative to attend the opening ceremony of the 23rd Yiwu Fair and relevant activities.