An exhibitor makes a live online sale at the China Expo in East China's Jiangsu province, Oct. 18, 2019. Photo by Ma Ning, Xinhua News Agency

Xinhua News Agency, Nanchang, Oct. 21 Tall orange porcelain vase stands quietly, glossy and delicate, and beside the bright yellow porcelain vase is round and solid, the two complement each other... At the 2023 China Jingdezhen International Ceramics Expo, they attracted everyone's attention.

Jingdezhen, the "porcelain capital" for thousands of years, enjoys a good reputation at home and abroad. The 2023 China Jingdezhen International Ceramics Expo, which opened recently, gathered nearly a thousand enterprises, of which more than 360 are from overseas.

"The monochrome glazed porcelain vase, called Dialogue, was designed by a Dutch designer and made at the company's factory in Jingdezhen." Ningshuqi, foreign trade manager of Jingdezhen Wanglong Ceramics Co., LTD., introduced, "The reason why it is called 'dialogue' is because they reflect the exchange of Chinese ceramic culture and foreign design concepts."

In 2013, China put forward the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past 10 years, cooperation among countries jointly building the Belt and Road has become increasingly close, and trade exchanges have become more dynamic. From 2013 to 2022, the trade volume of goods between China and countries jointly building the Belt and Road will increase from US $1.04 trillion to US $2.07 trillion, with an average annual growth rate of 8 percent.

People visit the Ru Kiln booth at the China Porcelain Expo in East China's Zhejiang province, Oct. 18, 2019. Photo by Zhou Mi, Xinhua News Agency

"When we first started our ceramic export business in 2015, we only had a few foreign customers." Ning Shuqi said that this year, the company has received more than 300 overseas intention customers, including Panama, Turkey and other "Belt and Road" countries to build trade partners. "The Belt and Road Initiative has helped the company explore foreign markets and brought a steady stream of foreign customers."

According to Jingdezhen customs data, since 2013, Jingdezhen ceramic exports have increased by more than 20% annually. In the first eight months of this year, Jingdezhen exported 106 million yuan worth of ceramic products to Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and other "Belt and Road" co-construction countries, accounting for more than half of the city's ceramic exports.

Under the background of jointly building the "Belt and Road", the Jingdezhen municipal government has promoted local ceramics to a bigger stage. In early October, the official flagship store of China Jingdezhen Ceramics was officially opened in Dubai, providing a new platform for foreign cultural exchange and cooperation for Jingdezhen local ceramic enterprises. Up to now, the flagship store has boosted the trade exports of 173 ceramic enterprises in Jingdezhen.

"Dubai, as a transit point for global trade, helps ceramic companies explore markets in Asia, Africa and Europe." Jingdezhen official ceramic flagship store operation management Co., LTD. Chairman Hu Bo said.

Two foreign visitors admire ceramic artworks at the China Expo in East China's Jiangsu province, Oct 18, 2019. Photo by Ma Ning, Xinhua News Agency

"Overseas flagship stores have opened a window to show Jingdezhen ceramics to the world, and we have received many overseas orders as a result," said Lv Yating, chairwoman of Jingdezhen Fuyu Blue and White Linglong Ceramics Co., LTD.

With the promotion of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road", the continuous development of new roads for ceramics to the sea also helps the export of Jingdezhen ceramic products. In September 2018, the "China-Europe train" directly from Jingdezhen to Moscow set off for the first time, exporting a large number of daily ceramics. In April this year, Jingdezhen market procurement trade method pilot first single goods officially exported, Jingdezhen ceramic small and micro businesses can be more convenient to go to the international market.

"Under the background of co-construction of the 'Belt and Road', our foreign trade channels continue to expand, Jingdezhen ceramic export more convenient, promote Chinese ceramic culture to the world." Jingdezhen customs director Liu Zhao said. (Reporters Wang Yihan, Lv Qiuping, Zhu Yunuo and Liu Jiamin)