The 3rd Linyi Trade City International Sourcing Conference for Belt and Road Cooperation commenced on October 10, 2025, at Linyi Mall in Shandong province, drawing over 2,000 international buyers from 99 countries and regions. This event, held annually since 2023, serves as a platform for trade exchange and cooperation among Belt and Road partner nations, reinforcing Linyi’s position in global commerce.
Linyi’s Strategic Advantages in Logistics and Trade
Linyi, designated as one of China’s first national business service logistics hubs, is known as the ‘logistics city of China‘ and functions as a major commodity distribution center. It excels in areas such as convention and exhibition economy, live e-commerce, market procurement, and cross-border e-commerce, supported by its extensive market infrastructure and geographic location in coastal Shandong.
With the largest market cluster in China, Linyi Mall hosts 136 professional wholesale markets, 63,700 shops, and 46,000 business households, employing one million people in trade logistics. The commodities available span 27 categories and over six million types, covering key areas of production and daily necessities, which enhances its appeal for domestic and international trade.
Infrastructure and Economic Impact
Linyi has developed a comprehensive logistics network integrating road, railway, sea, and air transport, featuring 22 logistics parks and more than 3,000 domestic delivery lines that reach all county-level cities and ports in China. This infrastructure contributes to logistics costs that are approximately 30% lower than the national average, boosting efficiency and competitiveness.
As part of its internationalization strategy, Linyi Mall is accelerating the development of ‘four shopping malls’ that combine online and offline operations with domestic and overseas markets. In 2024, the mall’s market transaction volume reached 660 billion yuan, total logistics volume exceeded one trillion yuan, and import-export volume hit 114.6 billion yuan, underscoring its economic significance in Shandong and China.
Expanding Global Trade and Investment
Linyi is actively promoting outward investment, with 476 enterprises from the mall engaging in international trade, generating an import-export volume of 10.267 billion yuan through Linyi Customs in the first eight months of 2025, a 58.5% year-on-year increase. This growth aligns with China’s broader economic policies and Belt and Road initiatives, facilitating deeper integration into global supply chains and attracting foreign investment to the region.
