Cross-border e-commerce trade maintained growth in Taizhou despite a generally grim picture for foreign trade in China. 

Official data shows that the city's retail exports on cross-border e-commerce platforms soared 53.2 percent year-on-year to 350 million yuan ($50.7 million) in the first two months of this year, more than any other city in Zhejiang province. 

This growth bucks the overall domestic decline and is mainly attributed to the city's strong manufacturing capabilities, according to Wu Changyun, general manager of Zhejiang Cloudpower E-commerce Co Ltd. 

The city is a manufacturing hub for mechanical and electrical tools, small household appliances, plastic products, sanitary ware, and auto parts, all of which are suitable for selling on cross-border e-commerce platforms, Wu said. 

For instance, Zhejiang Zhengte Co Ltd has recently intensified its online marketing efforts. Sales of its garden products are among the top 10 on Amazon, and tents produced by the company are being sold at Walmart, the world's largest retailer. 

Intelligent toilets manufacurers from the city are also tapping opportunities online.

Chen Fanglin, deputy general manager of Zhejiang Ikahe Bathroom Accessories Co Ltd, revealed that smart toilets could replace toilet paper and their sterilizing effects could help reduce cross-infection risks amid the epidemic.

"The consumption behavior of overseas consumers is moving online due to the current pandemic," said Zhang Zhen, a staffer from Zhejiang International Trade Digital Technology Co Ltd. 

"If they get used to shopping online, this will likely increase the chances of China's manufacturing industry benefiting from cross-border e-commerce," Zhang said.

Cross-border e-commerce is playing an increasingly prominent role in foreign trade in Taizhou despite still making up only a small portion of sales, noted an official from the Taizhou municipal bureau of commerce.

Taizhou has seen rapid growth in cross-border e-commerce since 2016, and the city is currently home to 2,190 online stores active on various cross-border e-commerce (B2C) platforms such as Wish, eBay, and Amazon.

According to an action plan recently released by local authorities, the city plans to introduce at least 10 cross-border e-commerce platforms, build at least 10 cross-border e-commerce parks, and foster 100,000 professionals in the sector within the next three years. After three years, the city government hopes to be generating 10 billion yuan in annual revenue for the city from cross-border e-commerce exports.

In early April, Taizhou was designated a comprehensive pilot area for cross-border e-commerce by the State Council, China's cabinet.