8th CSA Expo opens, regional dignitaries endorsing Chinese initiatives

Opening ceremony of the 8th China-South Asia Exposition

The 8th China-South Asia Exposition (CSA Expo) and the 28th China Kunming Import and Export Fair were grandly opened on July 23 in central Yunnan’s Kunming Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center.

This year’s expo opening was attended by vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress Ding Zhongli, speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Lao deputy prime minister Kikeo Khaikhamphithoune, Myanmar deputy prime minister and foreign minister U Than Swe, deputy speaker of the Maldivian People's Majlis Ahmed Nazim, vice chairperson of the Nepalese National Assembly Bimala Ghimire, Yunnan Party secretary Wang Ning and Chinese vice minister of commerce Li Fei.

Ding Zhongli delivers a speech at the opening ceremony.

Embracing the ideas of openness, cooperation and inclusiveness, China and south Asian countries have pursued the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the development plans of the south Asian countries, said Ding Zhongli, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China.

Ding added that the countries have worked together to promote the high-quality development under the BRI, deepening pragmatic cooperation in various fields and achieving fruitful results.

Attendees at the 8th CSA expo opening

Click the short video for a look into the Indian pavilion.

Citing the just-concluded Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, Ding emphasized that opening up is a defining feature of Chinese modernization, adding China will develop new institutions for a higher-standard open economy.

Ding said China is willing to join hands with the south Asian countries to build up a community of shared future, hoping the CSA expo attendees could identify more cooperation opportunities and achieve more pragmatic results.

Wang Ning makes a speech.

Yunnan Party secretary Wang Ning said that Yunnan will implement the resolution of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, expand high-level opening-up and run the CSA Expo well, so as to push ahead the mutually-beneficial cooperation between China and the south-southeast Asian countries.

“Through the CSA expo, I hope more exhibits could be turned into commodities for trade development, more buyers could become investors for industrial growth, Yunnan sights could be visited by more international tourists, and neighbors could become bosom friends in cultural exchanges,” said Wang.

Attendees at the 8th CSA expo opening

Click the short video for a look into the Laotian pavilion.

The international dignitaries from the south-southeast Asian countries congratulated on the success of this year's CSA Expo and they spoke highly of the vigorous development and fruitful achievements of the expo over the years.

In promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, China has opened its door even wider to the outside world, and the Chinese market has been increasingly linked to the global market, they noted.

The regional dignitaries said their countries are willing to work with China for better use of the expo, creating new growth points for cooperation and achieving a win-win development for a bright future.

Yunnan provincial leaders visit the expo pavilions following the opening.

Two Nepalese display their products at the expo.

Themed "Solidarity and Coordination for Common Development", this year’s expo lasts from August 23 to 28, with its 15 pavilions covering 150,000 square meters.

For the first time, the CSA expo establishes an comprehensive service zone for international trade and some pavilions are titled by specific products.

More than 2,000 exhibitors from 82 countries, regions and international organizations participated in the expo.

Pakistani buyers at the 8th CSA expo

Yunnan locals present their wonderful life at the expo.

Reporting by Yang Meng, Zuo Chao, Zhang Yin and Han Chengyuan; Photos by Yang Zheng, Lei Tongsu, Chen Fei and Gu Bin; Videos by Wang Yunya and Zi Jianfei; Trans-editing by Wang Shixue