South Asia Expo Signs $3.5B in Energy, Boosts Green Deals
KUNMING, China — The 10th China-South Asia Expo signed 18 energy projects worth over 25.7 billion yuan (approximately US$3.5 billion) at its Green Energy Pavilion on June 13, with cross-border cooperation and a landmark green certificate agreement with Laos emerging as the standout developments of the event.
The signing ceremony, held at the Kunming Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center in Yunnan Province, featured projects spanning wind power, photovoltaic solar, pumped-storage hydropower, and cross-border energy cooperation, according to Xinhua News Agency. Multiple Fortune Global 500 companies and industry-leading enterprises participated in the agreements.
Cross-Border Energy Deals Take Center Stage
Among the most significant signings were the Laos Bokeo Province 100MW photovoltaic project and a wind turbine equipment supply cooperation agreement for the CGN Laos Phase II Wind Power Project. These cross-border initiatives underscore the growing energy interdependence between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors.
In a historic first, China Southern Power Grid’s Lancang-Mekong International Energy Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Laos National Power Company (EDL) on a joint feasibility study for green electricity and green certificates. As reported by Securities Times eCompany, this marks China’s first-ever green certificate cooperation with a foreign country, establishing a potential framework for cross-border trading of renewable energy credentials.
A Yunnan Provincial Energy Bureau official said the cross-border energy project signings “will further deepen practical cooperation between Yunnan and neighboring countries in cross-border power interconnection and clean energy joint development, accelerating the construction of China’s energy corridor toward Southeast Asia.”
Building on New Infrastructure
The energy deals come just two months after the China-Laos 500-kilovolt cross-border power interconnection project was officially commissioned on April 20, 2026 — China’s first 500kV AC cross-border grid link. As China Daily reported, the project tripled cross-border transmission capacity from 50 MW to 150 MW and enables two-way electricity exchange capacity of 1.5 million kW, delivering approximately 3 billion kWh of clean electricity annually.
The 500kV line also facilitated China’s first cross-border new energy power transaction in April 2026, with 4.81 million kWh of electricity from Laos’ first large-scale mountain photovoltaic project transmitted to Yunnan. The projects signed at the expo build directly on this newly expanded infrastructure capacity.
A Decade of Regional Economic Cooperation
The 10th China-South Asia Expo, running from June 11 to 16 under the theme “Unity, Cooperation, and Shared Development,” has attracted 68 countries, regions, and international organizations. Over 1,500 professional buyers registered, with more than 60 percent coming from overseas. The exhibition spans 130,000 square meters across 13 themed pavilions.
The expo’s energy focus reflects a broader trend: in 2025, China-South Asia trade exceeded US$200 billion for the first time, growing 10.7 percent year-on-year. China is currently the largest trading partner of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Maldives.
Implications for Regional Energy Integration
While the 25.7 billion yuan in energy signings is notably smaller than the 51 billion yuan recorded at the 8th Expo in 2024, analysts point to a qualitative shift. The current round emphasizes cross-border cooperation and green certificate mechanisms rather than purely domestic projects, signaling deeper integration between China’s and Southeast Asia’s energy markets.
The green certificate MoU with Laos is particularly significant. Green certificates are tradable instruments that certify the environmental attributes of renewable energy generation. If successfully implemented, this framework could be replicated with other ASEAN countries, potentially evolving into a regional carbon market mechanism.
What to Watch
Implementation of the signed projects will be closely watched, particularly the operational details of the China-Laos green certificate cooperation. The success of these initiatives could pave the way for similar energy partnerships with other South Asian and Southeast Asian nations, reshaping regional energy geopolitics and accelerating the green transition across the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The expo continues through June 16, with additional investment and trade agreements expected before its conclusion.