KUNMING, China – The eighth edition of the China-South Asia Expo (CSAE) began on July 23rd in Kunming, Yunnan Province. This six-day event has brought together over 2,000 exhibitors from 82 countries and regions, with nearly half of the participants coming from outside China, particularly from South and Southeast Asia.

Themed “Unity and Cooperation for Development,” this year’s CSAE showcases a wide array of sectors, with a particular focus on green energy, modern agriculture, healthcare, leisure, entertainment, culture, and tourism. The expo features 15 exhibition halls, with nearly 60% of the space dedicated to industries such as building science and technology, manufacturing, green energy, and modern agriculture. Notably, the expo introduced a Coffee Industry Pavilion for the first time, hosting over 160 exhibitors. The expanded South Asia Pavilion now includes two halls with more than 800 booths, and a special exhibition area for Pakistan, the theme country for this year.

Since its inception, the CSAE has been instrumental in enhancing trade ties between China and South Asian countries. Over its seven previous editions, the expo has hosted over 18,000 domestic and international companies, attracted more than 4 million visitors, and generated over US$100 billion in foreign trade turnover, facilitating the signing of over 3,000 projects. In 2023, trade between China and South Asian countries approached US$200 billion, doubling since the expo’s launch in 2013, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce.

The CSAE continues to be a crucial platform for policy exchanges, commodity trading, and investment collaboration, reflecting the growing economic and trade potential between China and South Asian nations.