RE:German media: world Christmas, 2/3 decorations made in China
"201872 published on 2019-12-24 10:17:59
December 22, the frankfurter allgemeine zeitung, Germany article, the original title: the world Christmas, made in China Christmas by "made in China". Nearly two-thirds of the world's Christmas decorations come from the same Chinese city.It looks like a giant Christmas market: plastic Christmas trees are festooned with Christmas balls, cherubs and Christmas stars, nutcrackers, reindeer sled, electronic candles and the like, and "merry Christmas" signs in every language are paired with fir hats, socks and outfits... This is the Christmas market in yiwu, eastern China, which supplies 60 percent of the world's Christmas decorations.Even in a time of trade wars, the city's Christmas business is going well. From January to October, orders rose 24 per cent year on year, with Christmas orders exceeding rmb1.9bn, according to local customs data. "You can see containers full of Christmas gifts moving away one by one," the city official said. Some are shipped by train to nearby container ports in hangzhou, ningbo and wenzhou, while others are headed west along the new silk road to Europe.Yiwu is an industrial center with 1.2 million residents. In the decorative business district, 600 businesses are spread out in a checkerboard pattern. It attracts young workers from neighbouring areas. In conversation, they were generally satisfied with their work. They earn nearly 2 euros an hour, or just over 600 euros a month. Although production costs are rising in China, yiwu can still easily beat its competitors.Despite a trade war with the United States, China remains the world's largest producer of cheap goods. According to the latest data from the United Nations, China's economic growth contributes 1/5 of the world economic growth annually, which is still a world record. China is the biggest supplier of goods to Germany, ahead of the Netherlands, France and the us, according to the federal statistics office. "The world depends on China's output in light and labour-intensive industries," says McKinsey, a management consultancy.When the Chinese army of workers carved a statue of Jesus, it seemed strange. After all, this is a country shaped by Taoist and buddhist traditions. But that may be too complicated. To businessmen in yiwu, Santa Claus is like any other product."