China's small commodities hub working to attract global talent

中国小商品中心致力于吸引全球人才

HANGZHOU, April 30 (Xinhua) -- For Yaser Akeel, a student from Jordan studying at Yiwu Industrial & Commercial College in east China's Zhejiang Province, the future is well within reach.

【新华社杭州4月30日电】对于在浙江义乌工商职业技术学院求学的约旦籍留学生亚西尔·阿基尔（Yaser Aakeel）而言，未来正触手可及

On April 21, he joined 31 other international students from three local institutions -- Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua University of Vocational Technology, and his own college -- for a skills training and assessment program for young foreigners held by the city of Yiwu, known as "the world's supermarket."

4月21日，他与来自浙江师范大学、金华职业技术学院及义乌工商学院的31名国际学生共同参与了义乌市举办的"青年外国人才职业技能培训认证"项目。

After a round of on-site evaluations, 18 students earned a specialized vocational certificate in AI applications for international business, becoming the first foreign recipients in China.

经过现场考核，18名学员成功获得"人工智能应用（国际商务方向）专项职业能力证书"，成为全国首批获颁此类证书的外籍人士。

"This certificate gives me a lot more confidence in the job market," said Yaser. "It also helps me better understand the path I want to pursue."

“这个证书让我对就业市场更有信心，”亚瑟说。“这也帮助我更好地理解了我想要追求的道路。”

Issued by the Yiwu Vocational Skills Appraisal Center, the certificate confirms Yaser's proficiency in international trade and AI applications -- increasingly relevant skills in Yiwu, long known for its massive trinket, textiles and e-commerce-ready goods markets.

这份由义乌市职业技能鉴定中心颁发的证书，标志着持证者具备国际贸易与人工智能应用的复合型技能——这在素有"世界超市"之称的义乌显得尤为重要。作为全球小商品、纺织品及电商产品的重要集散地，义乌正加速推进数字化转型，此类技能认证将为国际人才参与新业态发展提供有力背书。

"Yiwu may not be a big city," said Yaser. "But it feels incredibly international. Opportunities are everywhere, and life here is easy for foreigners."

“义乌可能不是一个大城市，”亚瑟说。“但能感到这里非常国际化。到处都是机会，对外国人来说，这里的生活很轻松。”

In recent years, local governments across China have begun experimenting with new ways to help foreign students stay after graduation -- an elusive goal in a country that hosts hundreds of thousands of them each year.

近年来，中国多地政府积极探索留住外国留学生的新路径——这个目标的实现殊为不易，毕竟中国每年接纳着数十万国际学生。

Most foreign graduates leave the country within months, discouraged by strict visa policies and a shortage of viable job opportunities.

数据显示，受签证政策限制与优质就业岗位短缺影响，绝大多数外籍毕业生在完成学业数月内便选择离境。

Yiwu, a small but globally connected city in Zhejiang Province, is among the first to try a targeted approach that prioritizes practical skills over nationality to attract foreign talent to work in the trade hub.

在浙江这片改革开放热土上，被誉为"世界小商品之都"的义乌市率先破局，以"技能优先、不问出处"的开放姿态，为这座国际贸易枢纽城市注入人才活水。

As one of the world's leading hubs for small commodities, Yiwu trades with 232 countries and regions, with more than 21,000 foreign merchants from over 100 countries currently living in the city.

作为全球最大小商品集散中心，义乌与232个国家和地区保持贸易往来，常驻外籍客商超2.1万人，覆盖百余个国家和地区。

"I've felt a real sense of welcome and support here in China," said Assa Dia, a Senegalese student who hopes to stay in Yiwu after graduation. "Yiwu stands out as a city of opportunity, offering fertile ground for both entrepreneurship and careers."

我感受到中国真诚的包容与支持，"塞内加尔籍留学生阿萨·迪亚（Assa Dia）对未来充满期待，"义乌是机遇之城，为创业者与职场人提供双栖发展的沃土。"

"Foreign professionals are a vital resource," said Wang Guocheng, head of the Yiwu Human Resources and Social Security Bureau. "In a trade-oriented city like ours, they play a key role in connecting Yiwu to the global marketplace."

义乌市人力资源和社会保障局局长王国成表示："国际人才是城市发展的宝贵资源。在义乌这样的外向型商贸城市，他们架起了联通全球市场的桥梁。

"As the only city in China undertaking a comprehensive reform of international trade, we have both the capacity and the commitment to attract and support global talent," said Wang.

“作为中国唯一开展国际贸易综合改革试点的城市，我们有底气也有诚意广纳天下英才。”义乌市人力资源和社会保障局局长王国成表示。

Wang added that Yiwu is piloting a mechanism that links foreign vocational certification with work permit eligibility, a move that effectively bypasses China's typical requirement of two years' prior work experience for foreign hires.

他补充道，义乌正试点建立境外职业资格与工作许可衔接机制，此举有效突破了外籍人才在华就业需具备两年工作经验的常规门槛。

The city has also introduced a "white list" system, allowing certified foreign talent to apply directly for jobs at approved companies, forming what officials describe as a standardized model of employment through certification.

该市还创新推出外籍人才"白名单"制度，持证人才可直接对接认证企业岗位，构建起"以证选才、规范用工"的新型就业模式。

Officials say more initiatives are in the pipeline, including new credentials in cross-border e-commerce livestreaming and AI-powered design for international trade. The goal is to make Yiwu a destination for skilled professionals from around the world.

据官方透露，跨境电子商务直播、国际贸易AI设计等新兴领域职业认证体系正在加紧筹建，旨在将义乌打造成为全球技术人才的汇聚高地。

"It's easy for foreigners to do business in China -- people are always ready to help," said Mohamed Amine Abdeddayem, a Tunisian student. "Living here feels a lot like being at home."

"在中国经商非常便利，总能感受到热情相助，"突尼斯籍学生穆罕默德·阿明·阿布戴达耶姆（Mohamed Amine Abdeddayem）感慨道，"这里的生活充满家的温暖。"