The 3rd Linyi Trade City International Sourcing Conference for Belt and Road Cooperation opened on Friday in Linyi, Shandong province, attracting over 2,000 buyers from nearly 100 countries and regions.

The event, running Oct 10-12, underscores Linyi's growing role as a pivotal hub for international trade under the Belt and Road Initiative.

"Over the years, we have witnessed the Belt and Road Initiative becoming a major engine for connectivity, mutual benefit, and shared development among participating countries. It has brought the world closer together and injected new vitality into global trade," said Muhammad Hanif Khan, director of the World Chamber Network.

As the "logistics capital of China," Linyi stands out for its solid industrial foundation, well-developed logistics system, and strong supply chain advantages, making it an important trading hub both in China and across the world, he said.

Zhang Baoliang, Party secretary of Linyi, said Linyi is focusing on leveraging BRI cooperation to drive its market internationalization and integrate into both domestic and international economic circulations.

Robust trade figures from the first eight months of this year highlight this momentum. Linyi Trade City recorded 78.18 billion yuan ($10.9 billion) in foreign trade import and export value, a year-on-year increase of 4.2 percent.

The city's formidable logistics network serves as a critical backbone for its trade vitality. With over 3,000 logistics routes covering the nation, Linyi boasts logistics costs that are 20 to 30 percent lower than the national average.

International logistics channels have also seen significant growth. During the first eight months, the city dispatched 336 China-Europe freight trains. Linyi Port handled more than 125,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit containers for sea freight, marking an 8.6 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

To cater to the diverse demands of international buyers, the conference features dozens of sessions, including the Linyi Trade City foreign trade premium product expo, a dedicated matchmaking session for Malaysian international buyers, as well as specialized sections for food products, hotel supplies, and daily-use ceramics.

"The intended transaction volume for the foreign trade premium product expo alone is expected to exceed 200 million yuan," said Sun Bao'an, who is in charge of the Linyi Trade City foreign trade premium product expo.

zhaoruixue@chinadaily.com.cn