On September 26, the Weihai Municipal Government and JD Group signed a framework agreement to deepen strategic cooperation, reaching substantial agreements in areas such as marine industry belts, e-commerce, logistics, and education. This collaboration not only aims to bring Weihai’s signature products like sea cucumbers and figs to households across the country but also sees JD’s deep involvement in Weihai’s education, healthcare, and technology sectors, empowering the city’s development comprehensively.
The new chapter of cooperation between JD and Weihai can be traced back to a cherry flight to Jiangnan. Weihai’s favorable natural conditions have given rise to twelve distinctive agricultural product belts, including apples and cherries, and fostered high-quality seafood brands like natural wild sea cucumbers. Since the beginning of this year, coordinated efforts by the municipal e-commerce industry development task force, along with departments of commerce, marine, agriculture, and supply and marketing, have actively engaged leading e-commerce and logistics companies using these specialty products as a gateway. This quickly attracted the attention of JD Group, a leading player in the industry. In June, Weihai welcomed JD Air’s inaugural direct flight to Jiangnan, carrying fresh cherries, celebrated with the highest aviation ceremony of “water salute.”
The delicious Weihai cherries opened markets across Jiangnan and paved the way for deeper cooperation between Weihai and JD. In July, JD’s official seafood flagship store in Weihai launched operations, with a self-operated flagship store soon to follow. In August, the JD Logistics Supply Chain (Weihai) Industrial Base and JD Cloud Warehouse projects were established in Weihai, significantly reducing cold chain express prices by two-thirds, benefiting the city’s fresh produce logistics sector. In September, the “Weihai Sea Cucumber · JD Fresh” media promotion conference at JD headquarters garnered positive social feedback, propelling Weihai and JD onto a fast track of collaboration.
“Weihai is a major city in marine fisheries in China, leading in sea product yield among prefecture-level cities for over 30 years with large output and high quality. We have reached a consensus on building a marine industry belt,” said Feng Quanpu, Vice President of JD Group. JD will strengthen its cooperation with Weihai enterprises to support the sale of Weihai sea products to households nationwide through JD’s platform.
This consensus has evolved into a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement: JD’s seafood operator and Weihai’s fishery enterprises signed an agreement to feature products in JD’s Weihai seafood flagship store. JD Logistics signed a logistics cooperation agreement with Weihai supply chain enterprises. The inauguration of JD’s Weihai seafood flagship store and JD Logistics Supply Chain (Weihai) Industrial Base took place, and JD Education signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Weihai Vocational College. The 2023 JD Agricultural Specialty Shopping Festival Weihai Session was launched simultaneously, further enhancing the competitiveness of Weihai’s seafood enterprises on leading e-commerce platforms.
To promote more “Weihai quality products” nationwide, the cooperation between Weihai and JD Group is deepening from “promoting products” to “setting standards.” JD Supermarket will collaborate with Weihai Sea Cucumber Industry Association, domestic research institutions, and major sea cucumber enterprises in Weihai to establish e-commerce standards for Weihai sea cucumbers.
“We will join hands with JD Group to focus on building specialty e-commerce industrial belts, integrated supply chain circulation systems, and multi-format online and offline consumption systems, achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes,” said a representative of the municipal e-commerce industry development task force. They emphasized using agricultural and marine product cooperation as an entry point to deepen comprehensive cooperation with JD Group, striving to create a local model of collaboration with leading e-commerce enterprises.
