Yunnan center stage as it hosts Asia trade fair
2019 SSACEIF held from June 12 to 18 in Kunming to promote stronger cooperation
The South and Southeast Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair highlights Yunnan's key role in the Belt and Road Initiative by showing new efforts in opening-up and trade and investment facilitation, said local officials.
Delegates attending the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Corridor Governors Forum, which is a part of the expo, brainstorm on how to improve connectivity of the region. Provided to China Daily
The expo, also known as SSACEIF, is held in Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan province, from June 12 to 18.
Ruan Chengfa, governor of Yunnan, said on Monday that the BRI has opened up a new space for the world's economic growth. It has done this by "creating a new platform for international trade and investment and providing new practices for improving global economic governance," he said.
The governor said Yunnan is an important part of the BRI, standing at the core of several regional cooperation programs between China and neighboring countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia.
"We hope to join hands with all parties to make every effort in promoting the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor, Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and China-Laos Economic Corridor," Ruan said, citing the regional cooperation programs, in which Yunnan is involved.
He added Yunnan will help to speed up the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation program, by improving the mechanism among local governments.
The governor promised Yunnan will open up more to the outside world, deepen cooperation in key areas such as cross-border e-commerce, logistics, industrial parks, finance and tourism.
He said that Yunnan is accelerating industrial upgrades to develop a high-quality and high-level open economy. He said there are huge opportunities for cooperation in areas of green energy resources, agriculture, health, tourism and digital technologies.
Zhang Guohua, vice-governor of Yunnan and head of the executive committee of the event, said the expo is a step that Yunnan took to serve and join the Belt and Road Initiative.
"As an important hub of the BRI, Yunnan will use the event to boost international trade, show its improving investment environment and help local enterprises go global," Zhang said.
Representatives from more than 3,300 enterprises in 74 countries and regions, China's 20 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, as well as deputies of international organizations will attend the expo, according to the event's organizing committee.
Yunnan center stage as it hosts Asia trade fair
Among those enterprises, nearly half are from overseas, including 20 companies on the Fortune Global 500 list.
Exhibitors from a variety of industries and regions will display their products, technologies, solutions and services in 17 exhibition halls with a total area of 170,000 square meters.
With the theme of "A better gateway and powerhouse for shared development and prosperity", the expo is composed of 14 events. Events includes the 2019 China-South Asia and Southeast Asia Arts Week; the second China-South Asia Cooperation Forum; the third China-Southeast Asia Business Forum and a signing ceremony for trade and investment projects.
The expo's organizing committee predicts 600 billion yuan ($86.76 billion) worth of projects will be signed at the event.
The organizers said the South and Southeast Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair will not be limited to this week. There will be permanent shows for companies and commodities from China, Southeast Asia and South Asia.
In addition, there will be online shows for specialty commodities from South and Southeast Asia countries.
Yunnan is a hub of the ancient southern Silk Road because of its easy access to the rest of China and the South and Southeast Asia regions.
The province is now playing an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative with improved connectivity and strengthened economic and cultural cooperation with neighboring regions.
It has now developed a comprehensive transport network consisting of highways, railways, air routes and waterways to neighboring countries.
The province has three cross-border economic cooperation zones, nine border cooperation zones and 25 land ports to conduct trade and investment with its neighbors.
Delegates attending the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Corridor Governors Forum, which is a part of the expo, brainstorm on how to improve connectivity of the region. Provided to China Daily
Editor: Wang Shixue