Kunming, Yunnan Province – The 9th China-South Asia Expo kicked off on Thursday, gathering representatives from 73 countries, regions and international bodies alongside more than 2,500 enterprises. Over the next six days, the event will spotlight emerging industries, including green energy, AI, the coffee trade and traditional medicine, offering a window into the Chinese mainland's evolving marketplace.
With 16 exhibition halls, nearly 70% of the space dedicated to professional sectors, two South Asia-themed pavilions house almost 800 booths, with India and Pakistan each hosting 140. Attendees can dive into nearly 40 forums and procurement matchmaking sessions designed to forge deeper trade connections across borders.
Since its debut in Kunming in 2013, coinciding with the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative, the expo has facilitated more than $110 billion in foreign trade transactions and supported over 20,000 enterprises. This year's edition arrives as trade between the Chinese mainland and South Asian nations nears $200 billion, doubling over the past decade with an average annual growth of 6.3%.
At the opening ceremony, Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong described the expo as a key platform to strengthen links. He emphasized readiness to expand cooperation in the digital economy, low-carbon development, artificial intelligence and biomedicine, areas poised to drive the next wave of high-quality growth.
For young global citizens, entrepreneurs and changemakers, the expo offers more than business opportunities. It is a live showcase of innovation and sustainability, and a reminder that cross-border partnerships can accelerate progress on shared challenges, from climate action to tech-driven transformation.
As the China-South Asia Expo unfolds, visitors and digital nomads alike can explore Kunming's vibrant cultural scene, sample regional coffee blends and witness firsthand how policy, entrepreneurship and technology converge to shape a more connected world.
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China-South Asia Expo opens with focus on trade, emerging industries
cgtn.com
