10th China-South Asia Expo Opens as Trade Tops $200 Billion

The 10th China-South Asia Expo opened on June 11 in Kunming, Yunnan Province, bringing together 68 countries, regions, and international organizations as bilateral trade between China and South Asia surpassed US$200 billion for the first time in 2025. Running through June 16 at the Kunming Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center, the expo features approximately 2,300 exhibitors and spans 160,000 square meters across 16 pavilions — a dramatic expansion from the 6 pavilions and 50,000 square meters of the inaugural event in 2013.

From Commodity Fair to Global Platform

The expo’s evolution mirrors the deepening economic integration between China and South Asia. What began as the South Asian Countries Commodity Fair in Beijing in 2007 moved to Kunming in 2009 before being upgraded to the China-South Asia Expo in 2012, permanently based in Yunnan’s capital. According to Xinhua News Agency, the expo now covers all South Asian, Southeast Asian, and RCEP member states, with first-time national exhibition groups from Italy, Uruguay, and Australia.

“The expo’s founding purpose was to actively respond to South Asian countries’ concerns about expanding exports to China, reflecting China’s efforts and sincerity in increasing imports,” said Wang Liping, Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs at China’s Ministry of Commerce.

Trade Numbers Tell the Story

The economic stakes are substantial. China-South Asia trade exceeded US$200 billion in 2025, up 10.7% year-on-year, and grew a further 15.8% in the first four months of 2026. In Q1 2026 alone, trade reached US$60 billion, with Chinese imports from South Asia surging 35.3% — far outpacing export growth of 12.6%. Imports from Afghanistan, Maldives, and Bhutan doubled, as Xinhua’s English service reported.

China is now the largest trading partner of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Combined, China and South Asian countries represent a market of three billion people accounting for 20% of global GDP.

Bangladesh Takes Center Stage

Bangladesh serves as this year’s theme country, hosting “Bangladesh Day” on June 12 with its largest-ever delegation — 101 institutions and 175 representatives. Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir addressed the ceremony, stating that the government “is sincere in building sustainable relations that deliver tangible benefits to the people of both countries,” according to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.

The expo also sets the stage for Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s planned visit to China later this month — his first overseas trip since taking office — as The China-Global South Project noted.

Free Booths and Market Access

A distinctive feature of the expo is the provision of nearly 800 free exhibition booths to South Asian countries, allowing them to showcase products ranging from Bangladeshi jute and Pakistani leather to Sri Lankan tea, Afghan carpets, Nepali felt, Indian furniture, and Bhutanese art.

“The biggest feature of the Yunnan South Asia Expo is its popularity — South and Southeast Asian small commodities and specialty products are genuine and sell out instantly,” said Liu Yong, Vice Governor of Yunnan Province.

Beyond Trade: Infrastructure and Investment

Chinese investment in South Asian infrastructure continues to deepen. Yan Dong, Vice Minister of Commerce, noted that more Chinese enterprises are cooperating in ports, industrial parks, and electric power across the region. Notable projects include the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Bangladesh’s nationwide power grid (the first in South Asia with Chinese support), and the Colombo Port’s rising global rankings.

“China will further enhance the level of trade liberalization and facilitation, deepen industrial and supply chain cooperation with South Asian countries, and explore cooperation potential in emerging fields like cross-border e-commerce, green development, environmental protection, digital economy and biomedicine,” Yan said.

A Platform for Shared Growth

Sri Lankan Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe captured the sentiment of many participants: “China continues to inject stability and certainty into the world economy. No other country in the world provides such critical development opportunities for the South Asian region.”

As the expo enters its second decade, the question is not whether China-South Asia economic ties will deepen — the trajectory is clear — but how this platform will evolve to address emerging challenges and opportunities in digital trade, green development, and sustainable supply chains. With a combined market of three billion people, the potential remains enormous.