The upcoming eighth China-South Asia Expo is anticipated to further enhance trade cooperation and foster people-to-people exchanges between China and South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, its organizers said Tuesday.

As one of the key economic and trade exchange activities in the region, the expo will commence for a week on July 23 in Kunming City, the provincial capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province. 

Pakistan will be the event's country of honor.

Over 2,000 enterprises have registered for the event, including representatives from all South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, said Yang Mu, head of Yunnan's department of commerce.

The expo will feature 15 pavilions, including two dedicated to South Asian countries with approximately 800 booths. Other pavilions will showcase architectural technology, green energy, culture and tourism, and modern agriculture, among other areas.

For the first time, a special pavilion will be set up for coffee products. Yunnan, known for its high-quality arabica coffee, produces 95 percent of China's coffee. During the event, coffee companies from China and worldwide are expected to display their products and engage in discussions on coffee cultivation, processing and roasting.

China-South Asian 2023 trade volume nears $200 billion

China and South Asian countries maintain close trade relationships. According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, in 2023, trade volume approached $200 billion, doubling from 2013's figure. 

China's position as the largest trading partner for countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh has been continuously solidified. Various products – such as rice from Pakistan, red tea from Sri Lanka, seafood from the Maldives and pine nuts from Afghanistan – are increasingly entering the Chinese market.

Yunnan is called China's gateway to South Asian and Southeast Asian countries. Liu Yong, the vice governor of Yunnan, said the province will grasp the opportunities created by the expo.

"Leveraging the platform provided by the expo, we will continue to align the Belt and Road Initiative with the development strategies of South Asian countries, further expanding exchanges and cooperation in modern industries, the digital economy, green energy, culture, education, tourism and agriculture," said Liu.

On July 22, a supporting event will bring together officials, heads of business associations, scholars and business executives in South Asian countries to engage in in-depth discussions on topics such as investment and trade cooperation, technological innovation, digital economy, energy development and utilization, and infrastructure construction.