In a breakthrough development to expand the Silk Road Economic Belt in the South Asian region, the Chinese government is holding the first China-South Asia Science and Technology Ministerial Conference to help bring scientific and economic progress, peace and prosperity in the region.
Speaking at a press conference at Kunming, also called the City of Spring, China’s Yunnan Province Vice Governor Gao Shuxun also announced that the Second China-South Asia Expo would open on Friday.
He said that heads of five regional states would attend the business moot, aimed at strengthening economic and trade relations between the member states.
A representative delegation of Pakistan will attend the moot. Premiers of Bangladesh and Nepal will also be present.
A five-member press delegation, foreign ministers, ambassadors and other dignitaries have already arrived at the moot.
SECOND CHINA-SOUTH ASIA EXPO: Shuxun, who is also the moot’s executive committee chairman, told reporters that all preparatory arrangements have been made for the Second China-South Asia Expo, adding that for the first time, 3D printers, smart robots and other high-tech products will be shown at the expo.
“Over 3,188 indoor booths have been established for the participating companies from different countries of the region and a huge area has been allocated for outdoor booths. The total number of participating countries has reached 46, while 16 prefectures and cities across Yunnan and Central Yunnan Industrial Zone will also exhibit at the expo,” he said, adding that it would boost domestic business opportunities.
Leaders of over 60 national ministries and commissions, state-owned and private enterprises, foreign and domestic financial institutions will also attend the expo, Shuxun said.
“Breakthroughs have been made in the exhibition scale. This year, we will again utilise the old building of the convention center,” he said, adding that 768 new indoor booths have been added this year.
He said that the outdoor exhibition area has been expanded from 500 square meters to 7500 square meters.
He said that the pavilion arrangement has been improved for the expo and for the first time, trade in service pavilion and theme pavilion was set up. There are 10 indoor pavilions, including pavilion of the theme country Nepal, overseas commodities pavilion, and two outdoor exhibition zones for engineering machinery and building materials.
“Well-known international brands like General Motors, Yingli Group, India’s Tata Group, ILC and Sany Group will also exhibit at the expo,” the governor claimed.
“On the sidelines of the trade expo, we are also holding the first China-South Asia Science and Technology Ministerial Conference, aimed at implementing the national strategy of the Silk Road Economic Belt. We will also establish 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, to facilitate scientific and technological cooperation with South Asian nations, promoting China’s proposals on cooperation, listening to the demands of the South Asian nations and exploring ways to advance pragmatic cooperation,” said Shuxun.
