Opening of the Southern China-Asie exhibition with an emphasis on trade and emerging sectors

(Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

The 9th Southern China-Asie exhibition opened Thursday in Kunming, the capital of the Chinese province of Yunnan (Southwest), and attracted representatives of 73 countries, regions and international organizations, as well as more than 2,500 companies.

This six-day event brings together all the countries of South and Southeast Asia. It has 16 exhibition halls, almost 70% of which are devoted to professional sectors such as manufacturing industry, green energy, coffee industry and traditional Chinese medicine.

Two pavilions on the theme of South Asia, with nearly 800 stands, were fitted out, India and Pakistan each welcoming 140 stands.

Nearly 40 economic and commercial events are planned for the exhibition, including forums and contact meetings for purchases aimed at deepening regional cooperation.

The exhibition was held for the first time in Kunming in 2013, the same year when China presented the “Belt and Road” initiative. Since then, it has facilitated more than $ 110 billion in foreign trade transactions and has benefited more than 20,000 companies.

Organized jointly by the Ministry of Commerce and the Provincial Government of Yunnan, the exhibition constitutes a key platform to strengthen economic and commercial ties between China and the countries of South Asia.

In 2024, trade between China and the Southern Asian countries have approached $ 200 billion, dubbing in the past decade with an average annual growth rate of 6.3%, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce.

China remains attached to a high-level opening and advances Chinese modernization thanks to high-quality development, a process that will create valuable cooperation opportunities with countries around the world, including those in South Asia, said Yan Dong, Vice-Minister of Trade, during the opening ceremony.

Mr. Yan also expressed China’s desire to deepen the links in business and investment, to expand cooperation in emerging sectors such as digital economy, low -carbon development, artificial intelligence and biomedicine, and to jointly promote an open global economy.