Millennia of mountain-and-sea bonds: Yunnan and South Asia usher in a new era of cooperation

Editor's Note: Xu Juan is an associate professor of the Country and Area Studies Academy at Beijing Foreign Studies University. The article reflects the author's views, and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Unfolding the map, one finds Yunnan Province situated at the southwestern frontier of China. Yet the towering mountains of the Yunling Plateau have never served as barriers of isolation; rather, they have long acted as gateways linking China with South and Southeast Asia. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, the jingling bells of mule caravans have echoed through the mountains, transporting tea from Yunnan to the snowy plateaus and onward to the birthplace of Buddha. The Southern Silk Road, stretching from Yunnan to ancient India, was one of China's earliest international routes. Though Yunnan lies deep inland, its history has always been intertwined with the oceans. The Ming Dynasty navigator Zheng He, born by the shores of Lake Dian in Yunnan, led massive fleets on seven epic voyages to the Western Seas. During his voyage to Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka), he erected the Stele of Offering to the Buddhist Temple on Ceylon Mountain – inscribed in Chinese, Tamil, and Persian – a testament to Yunnan's enduring spirit of global connectivity and its people's aspiration for universal peace. Yunnan is also a microcosm of China's ethnic diversity and harmonious coexistence. It is home to 25 indigenous ethnic minorities, among whom the Dai people are a cross-border community.

During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Yunnan's land and air routes to South Asia served as vital lifelines for China to receive international aid and maintain strategic supplies. In 1937, when Burma was separated from British India, construction began on the Burma Road linking Kunming in Yunnan, to Lashio, Burma, by the end of that year. After Japanese forces occupied most of Burma in 1942, severing the Burma Road, China and the United States jointly constructed the Ledo Road (later designated as the "Stilwell Road"), stretching from Kunming through Burma to Ledo, India. The opening of this route reestablished China's overland connection with the Allied powers and thwarted Japan's blockade strategy. To ensure a continuous flow of wartime supplies, China and the US also launched "the Hump" route. Yunnan's role as a geopolitical hub bridging South Asia during this critical period holds immense historical significance and provides valuable lessons for contemporary international transport corridor development.

In the 21st century, guided by policies such as the Western Development Strategy and border-region openness, Yunnan has transformed from a peripheral frontier to a forefront of China's opening-up to South and Southeast Asia. Yunnan has accelerated its efforts to proactively serve and integrate into national development strategies, actively participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. 

Centered around Kunming, the province has advanced the construction of major transport corridors, connecting neighboring provinces and countries. From Kunming Changshui International Airport, direct flights now operate to Dhaka in Bangladesh, Colombo in Sri Lanka, and Kathmandu in Nepal. Since 2013, the China-South Asia Expo, held in Kunming, has become a key platform for enhancing economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between China and South Asian nations. Meanwhile, Yunnan-based enterprises have been expanding their global presence. Key players such as Yunnan Provincial Energy Investment Group, Yunnan State Farms Group, and Yunnan Construction and Investment Holding Group have engaged in infrastructure projects across South Asia, fostering cooperation in agriculture, healthcare, and other sectors. Additionally, Yunnan's medical teams have conducted "Brightness Action" programs in South Asia, providing critical ophthalmological care.

As Yunnan's connectivity with South Asia continues to grow, its international appeal is also rising. Many traders from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal have settled in Kunming, engaging in cross-border commerce. In Yunnan's universities, clinical medicine, information technology, and Chinese language teaching have become popular majors among South Asian students. Foreign educators from India and other South Asian nations are contributing to the cultivation of talent in South Asian languages.

Recently, the Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries emphasized the importance of building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and breaking new ground in neighborhood work. Yunnan's openness and cooperation with South Asia vividly reflect the implementation of this strategic vision.