Containers stockpiled at a port in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

The latest statistics from Ningbo Customs reveal that the trade volume between Ningbo and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative reached 372.25 billion yuan ($51 billion) from January to August. This represents a 5.1 percent increase compared to the same period last year and accounts for 44.2 percent of the city's total foreign trade value.

One of the factors contributing to this increasing trade is the growing number of local foreign trade companies actively exploring business opportunities in the markets of participating countries.

Gao Chao'er, customs affairs manager at Ningbo Ulica Solar Co Ltd, highlighted the growing importance of certain destinations for their solar product exports, such as Poland, Yemen, and Morocco, which have become vital markets.

Meanwhile, Ningbo has experienced a surge in the import of various fruits and nuts from Belt and Road countries. Data from Ningbo Customs shows that in the first eight months of this year alone, Ningbo imported a total of 144,000 metric tons of these products, with a total value of 1.77 billion yuan. 

Zhou Dongxu, manager of Zhejiang Yishenghe International Supply Chain Co Ltd, shared their company's experience in importing fruits. They import batches of fruit from Belt and Road countries through Ningbo ports on a weekly basis during harvest season. Their market reach extends beyond Ningbo to the Yangtze River Delta and surrounding areas.

Zhou also revealed their plans to further diversify their fruit imports from these countries in order to bring more high-quality fruits to the domestic market.