The Ministry of Commerce of China and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province jointly held an opening ceremony for the 8th China-South Asia Expo and the 28th China Kunming Export & Import Fair on 23 July 2024 at the Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Kunming.
At the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Than Swe delivered an opening speech together with Mr Ding Zhongli, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress of China, Speaker of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Deputy Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Republic of Maldives and Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly of Nepal.
In his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs first congratulated the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province for their initiatives to hold the annual Expo and Trade Fair successfully. He also mentioned that Myanmar is surrounded by five immediate neighbours, where over 3.2 billion people reside, and Myanmar’s strategic geographical location, together with abundant natural resources and human resources, provides the country with the potential to become a huge investment opportunity. He also highlighted the investment opportunities and encouraged business communities from China and South Asia countries to do more business with Myanmar.
This year, the Expo will be held from 23 to 28 July 2024, and it will be attended by high-level government officials from 10 Southeast Asian countries and 8 South Asian countries. More than 800 booths from 2,000 companies from 82 countries have been participating in the Expo.
During the occasion, a Myanmar delegation led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, together with the Union Minister for Commerce, explored the International Pavilions, which were showcased by 82 countries. The delegation visited Myanmar booths set up by the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) and Myanmar business communities. Under the collaboration between the Ministry of Commerce and related business associations, over 88 representatives from Myanmar business communities, including 37 representatives from UMFCCI led by their President U Aye Win, reportedly participated in the Expo by organizing 26 booths that display Myanmar products.
The China-South Asia Expo has been held since 2013 in Kunming, Yunnan Province, with the purpose of further enhancing trade cooperation and fostering people-to-people exchanges between China and South Asian and Southeast Asian countries. The current Expo is being held under the theme of “Solidarity and Coordination for Common Development”.
On the afternoon of 24 July 2024, the Myanmar delegation led by U Than Swe, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, together with U Htun Ohn, Union Minister for Commerce, left Kunming Changshui International Airport for Myanmar. The delegation was welcomed at the Mandalay International Airport by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Mr Zhang Wei, acting Consul-General of the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Mandalay at the Mandalay International Airport. — MNA
