The Vice Minister of Commerce, Li Fei, emphasized the significant role of the China-South Asia Exposition as a crucial platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and South Asian nations during a press conference on Tuesday.
Scheduled to be held from August 16 to 20 in Kunming, Yunnan Province, this year’s expo marks the seventh edition since its inception in 2013 and will be conducted entirely offline, according to Li.
Over the past decade, the trade volume between China and South Asian countries has surged, reaching nearly 200 billion U.S. dollars last year, in contrast to less than 100 billion U.S. dollars ten years ago. This impressive growth represents an average annual increase of 8.3 percent, as highlighted by Li. Notably, China has emerged as the largest trading partner for countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives.
The event has garnered enthusiastic interest, with more than 60 countries and regions expressing their intention to participate, and approximately 1,000 enterprises expected to attend. Alongside the expo, eight forums, including the fourth China-South Asia Cooperation Forum, and three other activities, including a cooperation project signing ceremony, will be hosted.
To make this year’s expo even more exciting, it will feature the inaugural South Asia tea festival, aimed at promoting tea products and cultural exchange. Additionally, a digital platform will facilitate online conferencing, business discussions, and the signing of agreements, enhancing the overall experience and accessibility of the event.
