An e-commerce supplier in China plans to recruit international students to be couriers so as to ensure efficient express delivery services during Spring Festival, China Business News reports.

Online shopping sites are short-handed due to an exodus of workers for weeks before and after China's Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb 8 this year. But in a competitive market, companies such as JD.com, Cainiao and Alibaba have promised to keep business normal, at least in major cities, during the festive season.

Suning Tesco suggested its customers should not feel surprised when opening the door and seeing a foreign guy saying, "Here's your delivery!" as the company is inviting foreign students to be couriers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanjing and Chengdu.

Foreign couriers are trained with courier skills, etiquette and Chinese culture and custom during Spring Festival and start working from Feb. 1.

Besides the shortage of employees, the express delivery industry was hit hard by the cold front that swept most parts of China.

Facing a slew of delays, the speed of parcel deliveries has slowed by 20 percent from Jan. 20 to Jan. 24, largely due to the bad weather, according to statistics from Cainiao and Alibaba.

Couriers are also facing other barriers, such as traffic congestion and frozen fuel tanks.