(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The 8th China-South Asia Trade Fair kicked off recently at the Dian-chi International Convention and Exhibition Center in Kunming, China.
Sri Lanka’s Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Majintha Jayasinghe, and others participated in the opening ceremony of the exhibition hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and Yunnan Provincial Government.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the exhibition, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena pointed out that this exhibition brought significant benefits to Sri Lanka and helped strengthen cooperation between China and South Asian countries.
Also, Speaker Mr. Abeywardena expressed his gratitude to China’s Ministry of Commerce and Yunnan Provincial Government for the long-term friendship between China and Sri Lanka as well as the hospitality.
The exhibition aims to further promote trade and economic development as well as tourism and cultural communication between China and South Asian countries.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the exhibition, Mr. Wang Ning, the party secretary of Yunnan Province, said that China as well as South Asian and Southeast Asian countries are a human community with a shared future, and the purpose of this exhibition is to promote economic globalization and the common prosperity of all countries.
This year, the number of South Asian exhibition halls has been increased to 2, including more than 800 booths, he said.
Mr. Wang Yubo, Governor of Yunnan Province, in his speech to welcome guests at the opening ceremony, said that China and South Asian countries are a community with a shared future, sharing sorrows and joys.
More than 2,000 companies from 82 countries, regions, and international organizations are participating in this exhibition.
Almost half of them are foreign enterprises, covering all countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Consisting of 15 exhibition halls, the exhibition will showcase achievements in industries with significant potential for economic and trade cooperation between China and South Asian countries.
These include green energy, modern agriculture, healthcare, and cultural tourism.
Last year, trade value between China and South Asian countries reached nearly $200 billion, more than double that of 2013, according to data from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
