From Sept 25 to 29, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, is hosting the fourth Global Digital Trade Expo.

Over the course of five days, the event is expected to draw more than 10,000 international buyers and feature over 1,800 exhibitors, with more than 20 percent of them coming from abroad. Over 70 Fortune Global 500 companies are in attendance.

At the Silk Road E-commerce Zone, China Daily spoke with Achraf Gharbaoui, a supply chain business assistant from Morocco and a graduate of the Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics. Gharbaoui said that the Belt and Road Initiative has made it easier to connect with clients and streamlined port coordination between China and countries in the Middle East and Africa — particularly those in East Africa — bringing these nations closer together and fostering strong partnerships.