Recently, General Secretary Xi Jinping issued important instructions emphasizing the need to further summarize and apply the “Yiwu Development Experience,” exploring pathways for high-quality development tailored to local conditions.

During his work in Zhejiang, Xi Jinping visited Yiwu multiple times for research, succinctly highlighting the essence of the “Yiwu Development Experience” as “inexplicable development, creation from nothing, and turning stone into gold.” In April 2006, a notice on learning and promoting the Yiwu Development Experience was issued, deciding to promote it across the province.

Twenty years later, at a critical juncture at the start of the “15th Five-Year Plan,” General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions on further summarizing and applying the “Yiwu Development Experience” hold significant guiding importance for the overall situation.

— Developing county economies according to local conditions.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that Yiwu’s small commodities have broken into a big market and formed a large industry, creating the “Yiwu Development Experience,” which is a successful practice of developing county economies based on local conditions.

Yiwu is not near a river, sea, or border. Over 40 years, following the development strategy of “prospering commerce to build the city,” Yiwu has played the innovation card, embraced reform, and opened up, using a small rattle drum to “shake out” the world’s largest small commodities market.

During his work in Zhejiang, Xi Jinping required all regions in the province to learn from the “Yiwu Development Experience,” specifically to “learn from Yiwu’s experience in creatively implementing central and provincial decisions based on actual conditions, and learn from Yiwu’s experience in basing itself on local realities, upholding local historical traditions, and forging a development path with local characteristics…”

By grounding itself in reality and adapting to local conditions, Yiwu has written a legend in China’s county economic development.

With good governance at the county level, the world is stable. As the basic unit of the national economy, the county economy is crucial for promoting high-quality development, advancing urban-rural integration, and achieving common prosperity. The “15th Five-Year Plan” outline clearly proposes “developing county economies with distinctive features.”

At the start of this period, which coincides with an important phase of transitioning between old and new growth drivers, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions provide clear direction for high-quality development of county economies, guiding various regions to leverage their resource endowments, identify key priorities, and better serve and integrate into the national development landscape.

— Respecting the pioneering spirit of grassroots and the masses.

A former colleague recalled that Xi Jinping insisted on using the term “Yiwu Experience” rather than “Yiwu Model,” because a so-called “model” is fixed, while reform and innovation are endless.

The “Thousand Village Demonstration Project” experience, the “Yiwu Development Experience,” and the “Fengqiao Experience”… Amid the magnificent reform and development practice, Zhejiang has nurtured a series of valuable experiences. These experiences are rooted in the creativity of the people and embody the wisdom of grassroots practice.

During an inspection tour of Zhejiang in September 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping reflected on the past and present, saying with emotion: “The ‘Eight-Eight Strategy’ I proposed in Zhejiang was formulated after in-depth research. ‘Rule-of-Law Zhejiang,’ ‘Safe Zhejiang,’ ‘Ecological Zhejiang’… Many experiences and practices are now being promoted nationwide, and among them are contributions made by the people of Zhejiang. The Communist Party must discover good experiences and practices based on the creativity of grassroots people, then summarize and promote them. Therefore, the masses are the true heroes.”

Similarly, the Yiwu experience is an evolving one, rooted

Yiwu Development Experience

The Yiwu Development Experience refers to the remarkable transformation of Yiwu, a city in Zhejiang Province, China, from a small, resource-poor agricultural town into the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities. This success, driven by market-oriented reforms and entrepreneurial spirit, began in the 1980s when local authorities allowed small-scale street vendors to operate, eventually leading to the creation of the massive Yiwu International Trade Market. The experience is often studied as a model of how grassroots commerce, government support, and global trade integration can fuel rapid economic growth.

Thousand Village Demonstration Project

The “Thousand Village Demonstration Project” is a large-scale rural development initiative in China aimed at improving living standards and infrastructure in thousands of villages. Launched in the early 2000s, it focuses on modernizing agriculture, enhancing environmental sustainability, and preserving local cultural heritage. The project has become a model for poverty alleviation and rural revitalization across the country.

Fengqiao Experience

“Fengqiao Experience” refers to a tourism and cultural initiative centered on Fengqiao, an ancient town in Suzhou, China, famous for its historic Fengqiao Bridge and the nearby Hanshan Temple. The site gained literary fame through the Tang Dynasty poem “A Night Mooring by the Maple Bridge” by Zhang Ji, which describes the scene of a traveler hearing the temple’s bell at midnight. Today, the experience allows visitors to explore the bridge, temple, and surrounding canals, immersing them in the poetic and historical atmosphere of traditional Jiangnan water town culture.

Eight-Eight Strategy

The “Eight-Eight Strategy” refers to a major economic development plan launched in Taiwan in 2002 under President Chen Shui-bian. It aimed to invest approximately NT$2.6 trillion over eight years to boost infrastructure, industrial upgrades, and regional development. The strategy was part of efforts to revitalize the economy following a period of slow growth and financial instability.

Rule-of-Law Zhejiang

“Rule-of-Law Zhejiang” refers to the province’s pioneering efforts in China to establish a comprehensive legal framework for governance and economic development. Beginning in the early 2000s, Zhejiang implemented systematic reforms to strengthen judicial transparency, protect property rights, and standardize administrative procedures, serving as a national pilot for rule-of-law construction. This initiative has since become a model for other regions, emphasizing the integration of legal norms into public life and business practices to foster stability and growth.

Safe Zhejiang

“Safe Zhejiang” is a comprehensive public safety initiative in Zhejiang Province, China, launched by the provincial government to enhance social stability, public security, and disaster response. Its history traces back to the early 2000s, evolving from local pilot programs into a province-wide system that integrates community policing, emergency management, and digital surveillance technologies. The initiative has been widely recognized for reducing crime rates and improving emergency coordination across the region.

Ecological Zhejiang

“Ecological Zhejiang” refers to a long-term environmental initiative in China’s Zhejiang Province, which has transformed the region from a heavily industrialized area into a model of sustainable development. Beginning in the early 2000s, the province implemented policies to reduce pollution, restore ecosystems, and promote green industries, such as eco-tourism and renewable energy. This effort has earned Zhejiang recognition for balancing economic growth with environmental protection, notably through projects like the restoration of the Qiantang River and the development of “green” villages.