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The model of the brand new sprawling $ 1.2 billion Kunming Dian-chi International Convention and Exhibition Centre which will host the China South Asia Expo 2015
from 12 to 16 June
By Nisthar Cassim
Sri Lanka is making a fresh push this week to woo Chinese interests for greater trade and investment, with a mega delegation at the five-day China South Asia Expo in Kunming, the capital of high-potential Yunnan Province.
A record participation of 123 private sector organisations and five Government institutions facilitated by the Export Development Board will reinforce the showcasing of Sri Lanka for greater bilateral trade with China.
The China-South Asia Expo (CSAE) scheduled for 12 to 16 June is the new edition of the former South Asian Countries Trade Fair (SACTF) which has been upgraded to an event of national level.
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A pennant with the Sri Lankan flag hangs at Hall 8 of the new Kunming Dian-chi International Convention and Exhibition Centre which houses the Sri Lankan pavilion as workers put the finishing touches last week |
According to EDB sources, this year will see the highest participation of Lankan representatives at the Kunming event.
The 3rd China-South Asia Expo is held in conjunction with the 23rd China Kunming Import and Export Fair at the brand new sprawling Kunming Dian-chi International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The strongest sector to be represented at Sri Lanka Pavilion is gems and jewellery with 92 companies, followed by 14 handicraft companies and 13 tea firms.
EDB sources said based on participation in the past six years at Kunming event, best performing sectors have been gems and jewellery, handicrafts products, value added tea, coconut-based products, leather products, wood, paper, and ceramic products. The export community in Sri Lanka, especially the SME sector, has benefitted immensely from the event.
Seven other South Asian countries will also participate at the 2015 Expo along with 10 countries from the ASEAN region. At the Kunming Import and Export Fair there will be 75 countries represented with 80 enterprises including 25 Fortune 500 companies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, when he visited Yunnan this year in January, had pointed out that Yunnan should work to develop itself into a hub that serves the trade and economic cooperation between China and South Asian countries.
Yunnan is the eighth largest among all provinces in China in terms of size and shares a common border with Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Its population is 47 million and capital city Kunming’s GDP is estimated at 345 billion yuan ($55.22 billion), which is around 70% of Sri Lanka’s entire GDP.
Organised by the Ministry of Commerce of China and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, the theme of 2015 event is ‘Friendship, Sincerity, Reciprocity, Inclusiveness and Win-Win Cooperation’.
Activities to be held during the Kunming Expo include the 10th China-South Asia Business Forum, the 3rd China-South Asia Think Tank Forum, the 7th GMS Economic Corridor Forum and the 13th ASEAN Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs Conference.
Aiming to boost cooperation between China and South Asian countries and drive development, the 2015 Expo will be inaugurated by Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao. Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, Laos Prime Minister ThongsingThammavong and Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister Hoang TrungHai are among regional leaders who are scheduled to attend.
India is the country of honour of this year’s expo, and Thailand is the guest of honour of the Import and Export Fair.
China-South Asia Business Forum is established for regional economic cooperation between Chinese and SAARC industrial and commercial circles in the context of ever increasing mutual trust in politic affairs and continuous economic cooperation between China and South Asian countries. This will seek to invite the leaders of China and South Asian countries, heads of government meeting speech, upgrading of China-South Asia Forum.
The China-South Asia Expo and the China Kunming Import and Export Commodities Fair are important contributors to the ‘One Belt and One Road’ initiative as well as important platforms for China to comprehensively deepen multilateral diplomatic relations with South and Southeast Asian and Pan-Indian Ocean areas, especially in economy and trade cooperation and cultural exchange.
The Expo will be a specific case for Yunnan Province to play an active role in offering service and taking part in the national initiative of the People’s Republic of China.
