Huaihua, a city in Central China's Hunan province, is intensifying its efforts to connect local products with global markets under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) framework, as highlighted at a trade and investment event on Tuesday.

Over 300 participants from more than 30 countries gathered in Huaihua for the 2026 Hunan (Huaihua) RCEP Economic and Trade Investment Conference and the "Hunan Premium Products Going Global" Foreign Trade Industry Supply-Demand Matchmaking Event.

The event brought together representatives from international organizations, business councils, overseas Chinese business leaders and professional international purchasing agents.

Wei Zhaohui, Communist Party secretary of Huaihua, emphasized in her welcoming address the city's unique advantages as a trading gateway.

Huaihua is a key node on the eastern route of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and serves as the only freight hub in Hunan dedicated to the ASEAN market, Wei said.

"Seven international logistics routes connect Huaihua to 238 ports and stations worldwide, enabling cargo to reach seaports in 30 hours and ASEAN countries within three days," she said.

The city has also developed significant industrial strengths, Wei added.

"In Huaihua, a single suitcase can be produced from raw materials to a finished product entirely within local industrial parks."

The matchmaking event highlighted Huaihua's specialized products, including luggage and bags, bamboo products, traditional Chinese medicine, green food, and sporting goods. More than 50 local companies showcased their products and talked with domestic and international buyers.

Following the negotiations, buyers visited local industrial parks and factories to gain a deeper understanding of the city's production capabilities, ensuring effective matching of supply and demand.

The event proved highly productive, with 14 intended procurement agreements signed on-site, covering seven major product categories with a total value of 211 million yuan ($31.1 million).

Ayman Saad Hashem, general manager of Ontop Trading, a foreign trade company based in Egypt, tested a ride-on suitcase at the event.

"This is excellent," he said. "With such a suitcase, you don't have to walk as much in airports and train stations. I'm sure it will sell well in our country."