The small and medium-sized micro-enterprises in foreign trade connect domestic industries on one end and overseas markets on the other. The small English corner reflects the resilience and vitality of foreign trade.

Recently, a scene in the International Trade City of Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, has attracted attention - every morning, before customers arrive, multiple merchants gather to learn English.

Why are they learning English in a place where business is conducted? It turns out that the merchants are learning practical English closely related to foreign trade, covering topics such as greeting, product introduction, price negotiation, and contract signing. In addition to English, some merchants have also enrolled in evening classes to learn French, Spanish, Arabic, and other languages to facilitate efficient communication with foreign buyers.

Currently, China's foreign trade development faces a complex situation. Although some small and medium-sized micro-enterprises have been affected, they continue to actively explore and enhance their competitiveness. Apart from learning foreign languages, some enterprises have set up live streaming rooms specifically for overseas customers, while others use artificial intelligence technology to generate multi-lingual promotional videos. These efforts to actively address challenges have created conditions for Chinese-made products to "go global" more smoothly.

Regions and departments across the country are also taking active actions. From organizing enterprises to participate in more domestic and overseas exhibitions to promote products, to providing professional services such as foreign-related legal rights protection; from actively cultivating and introducing more talents in the field of foreign trade, to supporting and fostering new forms of foreign trade such as cross-border e-commerce - a series of policies and measures have been introduced to strengthen China's competitive advantage in foreign trade.

Foreign trade is an important engine driving economic growth and a crucial hub for smoothing domestic and international circulations. As an important force participating in foreign trade activities, small and medium-sized micro-enterprises connect domestic industries on one end and overseas markets on the other. The small English corner reflects the resilience and vitality of foreign trade. With supportive policies, diligent enterprises, and concerted efforts from all parties, the foundation for China's stable and long-term development in foreign trade will be even more solid.

(Source: People's Daily, August 26, 2024, Page 11)