Back to Work

　　A worker moves materials for production at a workshop in Xingtai, HebeiProvince in north China, on February 24. Hebei is assisting foreign-fundedenterprises to deal with problems and key companies to resume work inan orderly manner.

　　strengthened the study of blockchainand explored its applicationin transaction settlements as well astrade and fi nance, with its patentsin the area ranking fi rst among allcentral banks in the world.

　　Blockchain was listed as astrategic frontier technology in anational industry plan in 2016. TheMinistry of Industry and InformationTechnology released an action planto encourage research and explorationin 2018.

　　Trade Livestreams

　　Livestreaming is expected to boostbusiness in the world’s leading smallcommodities market in ZhejiangProvince, east China.

　　Merchants at the YiwuInternational Trade Market willbe trading via livestreaming on ecommerceplatform Taobao, theagency said on February 21.

　　Selling goods through Taobaolivestreaming has become a trendypractice. At present, more than 3,000merchants at the market have begunselling their commodities throughlivestreaming to customers fromaround the world.

　　Huang Xianping started sellingproducts via online broadcastingin February. On messaging appWeChat, she wrote, “Livestreamingservices provided by Taobao willdefi nitely bring new opportunities tous merchants.”

　　Through the livestreaming,customers can see the productsand save on travel expenses. Formerchants, selling goods becomesmore effi cient.

　　According to Taobao, sinceFebruary, the number of newbroadcasters has increased tenfoldcompared to the same period inJanuary. More than 10,000 peopleare visiting the learning platformTaobao University daily to improvetheir livestreaming skills.

　　On February 25, Taobao openeda free online course to help merchantslearn about online operations.