Yunnan stands out at Myanmar-China border trade fair

The role of Yunnan province has been highlighted at the ongoing fourth Myanmar (Lashio)-China (Lincang) border trade fair that opened in Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw on May 25.

The fourth border trade fair will inject new vitality into economic and trade cooperation between Myanmar and Lincang border city in southwest Yunnan, which is a pioneering region for the Chinese province to exchange and cooperate with Myanmar.

The fourth Myanmar-China border trade fair opens in Nay Pyi Taw on May 25. Photo/Yunnan Daily

Jointly held by the Lincang People's Government, the Yunnan Sub-Council of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the Trade Promotion Department of Myanmar Ministry of Commerce, the border trade fair aims to serve the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and the China-Myanmar New Channel to the Indian Ocean.

Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai, Myanmar Union Minister for Planning and Finance U Win Shein, Myanmar Union Minister for Commerce U Aung Naing Oo, and Lincang Mayor Du Jianhui delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Heads of other Myanmar ministries and commissions, as well as business officials of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, attended the opening.

“China and Myanmar are connected by mountains and rivers, and the Yunnan-Myanmar cooperation has a long history, with Myanmar always being the province's largest trading partner,” said Chen Hai, adding the Yunnan-Myanmar economic and trade cooperation has a solid foundation and enjoys geographical convenience.

Recalling the recent visits to Myanmar by Wang Ning, Secretary of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, the Chinese ambassador said that new impetus has been injected into the Yunnan-Myanmar exchanges and cooperation.

Chen Hai revealed that he had just concluded a tour to the border areas between Yunnan and Myanmar, and in the accompaniment of U Aung Naing Oo, Myanmar Union Minister for Commerce, the visit aims to solve the difficulties that still exist in China and Myanmar border trade, so as to benefit businesses of the two countries.

The fourth Myanmar-China border trade fair opens in Nay Pyi Taw on May 25. Xinhua Photo

Over 150 Chinese business professionals are exhibiting their 500 plus categories of products from the Chinese provinces of Yunnan, Shandong, Sichuan, Guangxi, and others. The Myanmar businesses are displaying jade, pearls, wood products, seafood, and other Myanmar specialties.　

The fourth Myanmar-China border trade fair will last till May 28, during which bilateral businesses talks, an Indian-Ocean investment promotion and China-Myanmar cultural performances will be staged.

“Giving full play to its geographical proximity to Myanmar, Lincang has always been active in serving the provincial exchanges with Myanmar and the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor,” said Du Jianhui, Mayor of southwest Yunnan’s Lincang city.

Since August 2021, Lincang has been a freight hub on the China-Myanmar New Channel to the Indian Ocean, facilitating container flows in the region via a sea-road-rail transportation mode and contributing to Yunnan’s role as the Chinese pivot of opening-up to South Asia and southeast Asia.

Reporting by Guo Yao and Zhang Yinglin (Yunnan Daily); Trans-editing by Wang Shixue