KUNMING: The 10th China-South Asia Expo officially opened its doors on Thursday (June 11) in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, bringing together thousands of businesses, government representatives, and international organisations from across Asia and beyond.
Held from June 11 to 16, the six-day expo saw the participation of more than 2,300 enterprises from 68 countries and regions, with overseas exhibitors accounting for 42 per cent of the participants.
In a statement, organisers said the event is aimed at strengthening economic cooperation, trade, and investment ties between China, South Asia, and South-East Asia.
"The importance of such cooperation is reflected in the growing trade relationship between China and South Asian countries. From 2007 to 2025, total trade volume between the two sides more than tripled, with bilateral trade surpassing the US$200 billion mark for the first time last year,”
"In the first four months of 2026, trade expanded by 15.8 per cent year-on-year, driven by strong growth in China’s imports from South Asia,” the organisers said.
Malaysia is among the countries participating in the South-East Asia Pavilion, which brings together 228 enterprises from eight Asean countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos.
The expo also features dedicated pavilions focusing on green energy, manufacturing, healthcare and wellness, culture and tourism, modern agriculture, and the coffee industry, alongside a series of business matchmaking events aimed at fostering regional cooperation.
More than 1,500 professional buyers have registered for the event, with overseas buyers accounting for over 60 per cent of registrations, according to organisers.
A visit to the Malaysian pavilion found that 17 companies are exhibiting across 28 booths, showcasing a diverse range of products that include food and beverage items, bird’s nest products, pearls, health supplements, durians, and skincare products.
A representative of the Malaysian delegation, Fang Shua Hua, said Malaysian exhibitors were using the platform to promote a wide range of products to Chinese consumers and international buyers.
"I hope visitors in Kunming will take the opportunity to visit Hall 6 and explore the products showcased by Malaysian exhibitors,” she told Bernama.
Meanwhile, Nanyang Pearls founder Irene Lou said China continued to be the company’s key market, driven by strong consumer appreciation for pearls, in particular Malaysia’s South Sea pearls.
"China is our main market. They have a long pearl culture and they really love South Sea pearls, especially golden South Sea pearls from Malaysia,” she said. - Bernama
