Photo: Chen Zinbo/Xinhua/AFP
Eurasia
22/06/2025 04:30
Launched in 2013, the expo has grown steadily in scope. The number of pavilions has expanded from six to 16, with nearly 70 per cent now focused on specialised sectors such as manufacturing, green energy, coffee and traditional Chinese medicine.
Trade between China and South Asia reached nearly 200 billion US dollars in 2024, doubling over a decade with an average annual growth rate of 6.3 per cent. China remains the largest trading partner for countries including Pakistan and Bangladesh. South Asian exports—such as Sri Lankan tea, Indian jewellery, Afghan lapis lazuli and Nepalese cashmere—are increasingly popular in the Chinese market.
To support this growth, China has launched joint research with Pakistan, promoted seafood exports from the Maldives, and formed trade groups with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The China–Maldives Free Trade Agreement came into force this year, and investment agreement upgrades with Bangladesh are underway.
Prasad Wijesuriya of the Sri Lanka–China Friendship Association said China's support boosts confidence among Sri Lankan producers, especially in agriculture, apparel and wellness sectors. He emphasised that China’s open trade policies benefit both its own economy and those of developing partners.
Cooperation is also expanding into emerging sectors such as photovoltaics, electric vehicles, digital technology and cross-border e-commerce. Ahmed Nazim, deputy speaker of the Maldives, praised China's leadership in green technology and sustainable development.
Amid global protectionist trends, the expo reaffirms China’s commitment to openness and multilateralism. Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and Afghanistan’s acting deputy prime minister Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi both praised the event’s role in promoting regional development and economic resilience.
Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong stated that China's high-level opening up and modernisation efforts will continue to offer opportunities for global cooperation, including in South Asia.
