A delegation of nearly 800 people from more than 300 pearl companies in Zhuji, Zhejiang province, attended the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's combined jewelry fairs in early March. It was the first major international trade event held in Hong Kong since the special administrative region resumed quarantine-free travel with the Chinese mainland starting from Jan 8.

The combination of the two fairs — the 39th Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and the 9th Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show — is the largest such event in Asia. This year's five-day event attracted more than 2,500 exhibitors from around the world and 60,000 buyers from 130 countries and regions.

Hong Kong is a leading trade and distribution center for pearls, and over 90 percent of freshwater pearls in the Hong Kong market are from Zhuji. This year, a 459-square-meter Zhuji pavilion was set up at the fair.

Xinma Jewelry, a pearl company from Zhuji, brought over 100 kilograms of baroque pearls for its debut at the fair. Baroque pearls have an irregular shape. Wang Zhijie, founder of the company, said all the hard work was worth it.

"One of the biggest takeaways from the event has been friends. I've made many friends there, both Chinese and foreigners. After the fair, some visited my shop in Zhuji in person," Wang said.

Zheng Zongbin, an executive of Lezhen Jewelry, concurred. "The fair brought me many new clients," Zheng said.

Zhan Chunji, chairman of Zhejiang Yisheng Technology Co Ltd, a buyer from Zhuji, said his Hong Kong trip was a chance to learn the latest about the international pearl industry.

"It helps to bring our freshwater pearls to a larger market," Zhan said.

The Zhuji delegation included 49 exhibitors and over 300 buyers, and 70 percent of them attended the fair for the first time, according to Vice-Mayor Chen Wenjin. The deals made at the fair were expected to reach 100 million yuan ($14.5 million).

"It was really much better than we expected. We also plan to attend exhibitions in Japan to promote Chinese freshwater pearls," says He Tieyuan, secretary-general of the Zhejiang Province Pearl Industry Association.