A trade fair held at International Expo Center of Yiwu.

The number of foreign-funded enterprises in Yiwu, in East China's Zhejiang Province, has risen from around 600 in 2014 to 1,446 currently, among which more than half are from the countries along the Belt and Road routes.

The turning point was business registration reform in 2014. Foreign investors need not apply for the government approval before setting up a business. As long as their business is not on the "negative list", they only need to report to the government for registration before establishing an enterprise.

The reform directly shortens the distance between the world, especially the countries along the Belt and Road routes, and Yiwu, a city famous for its small commodity trade and vibrant market.

In terms of the number of foreign enterprises in Yiwu, the top six countries are Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Syria, India and Afghanistan. Some of these countries have been ruined by wars, and have a strong demand for small commodities.