Live-streaming fuels rural vitalization in WCNA

A live-streaming event promoting local agricultural specialties and intangible cultural heritages was held in the Qingdao West Coast New Area (Qingdao WCNA) recently.

The event is part of the 2023 China Netcasting Creation Summit. Local live-streaming hosts promoted agricultural products from Qingdao WCNA online to support the agricultural industry.

Xue Weijiang, the director of the event, said that short-video platforms such as Douyin and Kuaishou played an active role in supporting the event. The live stream peaked at 8,000 online viewers simultaneously.

"We believe that the internet is a powerful tool for driving rural vitalization. Our goal is to use online audiovisual platforms to promote and sell specialty agricultural products, as well as to share the stories of rural vitalization happening in the Qingdao WCNA," Xue added.

A local online influencer promotes agricultural products via a live-streaming platform in Qingdao WCNA, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/Xihaian News]

The new area is home to seven e-commerce companies that have achieved annual online sales exceeding 10 million yuan ($1.37 million). In 2022, the total online transaction volume for agricultural products in the entire new area reached approximately 550 million yuan, according to incomplete statistics.

Additionally, Qingdao WCNA has partnered with Alibaba Group to boost the development of rural e-commerce in recent years. The two sides have established a rural e-commerce incubator and set up special funds for a rural e-commerce cultivation center. This center focuses on preparations for live-streaming e-commerce, influencer training, and the establishment of e-commerce product supply chains.