Weifang charts robust foreign trade growth, sets sights on further opening-up

Weifang in Shandong province has reported substantial achievements in advancing high-level opening-up during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), with officials outlining goals for the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan at a press conference on Friday.

The city's annual import and export volume has surpassed the 300 billion yuan ($42.1 billion) threshold, with its trade network now covering 218 countries and regions, according to Guo Yongchao, director of the Weifang commerce bureau. More than two thirds of that total came from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The city used a model integrating cross-border e-commerce, industrial cluster, and international warehouses. It established 74 warehouses in 32 countries and regions, resulting in its cross-border e-commerce import and export volume exceeding 19 billion yuan in the first eight months of this year, ranking first in Shandong.

Cai Long, head of Weifang customs, highlighted efforts to publicize tax relief policies and provide targeted support to agricultural businesses. These measures have saved over 73 million yuan in tariffs for equipment and imports related to the seed industry.

Weifang launched the first vegetable export operation in the Jinan customs region using the European Union's Transports Internationaux Routiers system, enabling fresh produce to reach international markets directly. This has cut transportation time by 50 percent and costs by 38 percent.

The Weifang national agricultural comprehensive zone operates centers dedicated to establishing national standards for vegetable and livestock slaughter quality. It has formulated China's first international standard for the livestock industry and seven vegetable standards, filling gaps in the domestic sector.

Weifang's agricultural products are now sold to 148 countries and regions, with an average annual export growth of 10 percent.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Weifang is set to expand its competitiveness by deepening participation in global industrial division and cooperation.

The city plans to cultivate and expand its foreign trade market entities by nurturing over 80 leading foreign trade enterprises and more than 400 backbone enterprises by 2030. To that end, it has plans for a three-year project to support agricultural and food product exports and strengthen alignment with international rules.