YIWU, Oct 23 (INP): The five-day 24th China Yiwu International Commodities (Standards) Fair jointly hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province and other relevant authorities kicked off on October 21, in Yiwu, Zhejiang province was underway. The fair is being attended by a large number of people including Chinese and Pakistani business as well. Addressing the opening ceremony, Vice-Governor of Zhejiang Province Mr. Wang Wenxu had said that on behalf of Zhejiang Administration for Industry and Commerce, I hereby take this opportunity to extend warm congratulations on the holding of the fair, warm and sincere welcome to leaders, friends from all circles, travelling merchants inside and outside the province and media friends present at this opening ceremony, and heartfelt thanks to the hard work of the organizing committee. Noted Pakistani businessmen Syed Ummar Ali Bukhari also the CEO of Aero Direction, settled in Yiwu over years has said that the event holds key importance as it will introduce the Pakistani businessmen with new products and technologies emerging at global level. He said that Pakistan is integral part of Belt and Road Project and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a mega project which has open new avenues and enhanced trade activities and opportunities in Pakistan. International community should also support the project, he urged. Vice President of international Chinese Company YXE Stanley Fang speaking on the occasion said that Pakistan is time-tested friend of Pakistan but due to delay in construction of railway track, the trade activities with Pakistan can’t been started as they were expected. Completion of basic structure including completion of railway track will help in further enhancing the bilateral trade both for Pakistani and Chinese companies, he added. Stanley Fang further said that Pakistan is an important market for China and Belt and Road initiative was aimed at connecting all the countries of region. It is worth mentioning here that this year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up and the 15th anniversary of the double-eight strategy(develop eight areas with eight measures). From “wherever there is a market, there would be Zhejiang merchants” to “wherever there are Zhejiang merchants, there would be a market”, having led the country after growing out of nothing and becoming increasingly powerful, Zhejiang-merchant-based market is a benchmark for the growth of China’s commodity market. Last year, the total turnover of the commodity market (including online market) of Zhejiang reached 5.85 trillion Yuan. In particular, a number of producing markets represented by Yiwu Small Commodity Mart have been important powers for supporting the high-level development of regional economy. Outside Zhejiang, markets created by Zhejiang merchants have also maintained a steady momentum of growth, generating more than 300 billion yuan sales of goods made in Zhejiang. Markets both inside and outside the province have been an integral part of the quality development of the economy of Zhejiang, and a significant power for facilitating “Made in Zhejiang” and Zhejiang’s industrial upgrading and development. Yiwu Small Commodity Mart is a window for displaying industry leaders on Zhejiang market and quality goods made in Zhejiang. Opening the 5th Fair of Market Purchase of Zhejiang Goods in parallel with the 24th China Yiwu International Commodities (Standards) Fair has reflected targeted connection, demand orientation and deep integration, while creatively opening up two special exhibition areas “Made in Zhejiang-- Purchase Area for Zhejiang- merch ants-based Markets Outside Zhejiang” and “Quality Goods in Yiwu-- Purchase Area for Zhejiang- merchants-based Markets Outside Zhejiang” is bound to facilitate the establishment of long-term distribution partnership between Yiwu Small Commodity Mart and Zhejiang- merchants-based Markets Outside Zhejiang, achieve re sourcing sharing, and reinforce complementary advantages, powerful combination and mutual promotion and progress, expand wider channels and space for “selling goods made in Zhejiang around the world”, and make greater contributions to the province’s facilitating quality development and creating quality life.