Linyi Trade City, the commercial flagship of Linyi in Shandong province, is undergoing a strategic transformation to strengthen its position as a globally connected and digitally empowered trading center. The city's strategy focuses on "strengthening domestic trade, expanding international trade, and enhancing digital infrastructure", aiming to integrate online and offline commerce and connect domestic markets with global supply chains.

A key aspect of this shift is a broad push for internationalization. This year, Linyi plans to establish more than 15 overseas trade centers, warehouses, and border logistics hubs across Belt and Road Initiative countries and RCEP markets. The city is also promoting group-based market entry strategies, encouraging local businesses to go global collectively. Over 100 trade exhibitions and procurement events — including the RCEP (Shandong) Import Expo and international buyer fairs — are held annually to foster partnerships and secure new orders.

To further boost foreign trade, Linyi is scaling up its key platforms, including the Linyi Trade City cross-border e-commerce service hub and the Lanhua cross-border e-commerce industrial park. Full operations at the International Market Center (IMC) are also underway. The city has launched a liaison office and product showroom in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, to expand brand exposure. By year-end, Linyi aims to nurture 50 new foreign trade enterprises and three comprehensive service providers, complete more than 15 million 9610 customs declarations, and bring in over 350 additional cross-border e-commerce merchants.

Meanwhile, logistics capacity is being strengthened. The cross-border consolidation center at Linyi Port is under rapid construction, supported by expanded international road freight routes and deeper collaboration with Shandong Port Group to develop sea-land intermodal shipping. Annual targets include over 2,000 international trucking trips and at least 500 China-Europe freight trains.

Digital commerce forms the final pillar. Linyi is upgrading its China Market digital platform with mobile cross-border purchasing, online payment, and national pavilion functions. With over 2,000 new merchants, the city is also rolling out its trade and logistics big data platform 2.0 and expanding the "Yiliantong" supply chain finance platform, which has already surpassed 16 billion yuan ($2.22 billion) in service volume. These initiatives are for a smarter, greener, and more inclusive commerce ecosystem in Linyi.