Shipping containers are stacked and handled at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. [Photo/IC]

Zhejiang was a pioneer in China's reform and opening-up. It carried out market-oriented reform more than 40 years ago, one of the first provinces in China to do so. Over the years, its private economy has achieved leapfrog growth in scale and strength, nurturing a great number of successful enterprises.

Zhejiang's GDP reached 9.45 trillion yuan (about $1.37 trillion) in 2025, growing by 5.5 percent year-on-year, according to data released on Jan 21 by the Zhejiang Provincial Bureau of Statistics.

Foreign trade demonstrated resilience. Total imports and exports amounted to 5.55 trillion yuan, up 5.4 percent year-on-year. Exports climbed 7.2 percent to 4.19 trillion yuan, while imports edged up 0.3 percent to 1.36 trillion yuan.