Commodities, investment focus as Kunming fair seeks Asian trade, economic connectivity
Commodities, investment focus as Kunming fair seeks Asian trade, economic connectivity
Kunming: Laos was a guest of honour at the 2017 South and Southeast Asia Commodities Expo and Investment Fair (SSAECIF), held in the Chinese city of Kunming in South-Western Yunnan province that opened yesterday.
The delegation from Laos was led by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Dr Khamlien Pholsena and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s Trade Promotion Department Director General, Mr Somvang Ninthavong, who is also head of the nation’s SSAECIF secretariat.
The event was officially opened yesterday and will run for seven days before wrapping up on June 18.
A total of 2 companies from Laos were represented with over 52 booths displaying their products at the event.
Lao products included processed agricultural and select handicraft items, jewellery and more.
Secretary of CPC Yunnan Committee, Mr Chen Hao addressed the opening ceremony.
In addition to showing commodities from South and Southeast Asian countries, SSACEIF aimed at promoting cooperation between these countries and beyond in a bid to serve as an important platform for multilateral diplomacy, economic cooperation and culture exchange, Mr Chen said.
This was possible through facilitating policy communications, infrastructure connectivity, trade flows, capital circulation and people to people exchanges.
A key aim of the fair is to harness momentum in construction of the so-called “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) for connectivity across continents, inspired by the ancient Silk Road that helped link and advance countries and cultures through trade.
The event is committed to enhancing shared vision and development of countries and regions engaged in the OBOR initiative, he said.
Yunnan has the role as China’s Southwestern gateway thanks to its advantageous geographic location at the convergence of economic circles of China, Southeast Asia and South Asia, Mr Chen said.
He hoped that the SSACEIF would catalyse a boost to the flow of goods, capital, human resources, technologies, information and more between China, South and Southeast Asia and beyond.
In depth integration of these elements between markets, industries and projects would translate into economic complementarities as the driving force of development and bring about mutual benefit, win-win cooperation and shared development in more fields and on higher levels, he added. Themes covered included South Asia, Asia, healthy and marine biopharmaceuticals, manufacturing, Taiwan, plateau agriculture, electromechanics, stone art and wooden art.
The expo saw 8,000 stands over 170,000 square metres with special subject halls accounting for over 50 percent of the above.
About 4,000 enterprises took part in the exhibition, with 41.2 percent originating from outside of China.
Some 10 of the top 500 enterprises in China as well as 35 enterprises well known both in China and abroad are taking part in the exhibition.
Some 11 nations from Southeast Asia, eight from south Asia and around 20 provinces of China took part.
At the same time, many officers of related countries, enterprises and specialists are also present at the event.
The programme incorporates involvement from the China-South Asian Business Forum and Asian Chinese Chamber of Commerce, China-Asian Business Forum, Marine Biology Resource Protection and Exploitation Summit Forum.
