Beijing hosts a promotional conference for the 10th China-South Asia Expo (CSAE) and the 30th China Kunming Import and Export Fair on Tuesday. [Photo by Guo Yanqi/chinadaily.com.cn]

The 10th China-South Asia Expo (CSAE) and the 30th China Kunming Import and Export Commodities Fair will be held in Kunming, Yunnan province, from June 11 to 16, officials said Tuesday at a conference to promote the event in Beijing.

The event brought together diplomatic representatives from 14 countries, officials, business associations, and company representatives, underlining the expo's growing international reach.

Co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and the Yunnan provincial government, the CSAE has become a key platform for trade and economic cooperation between China and South Asian countries.

Partner companies of the 10th China-South Asia Expo showcased their products at the expo's promotional conference in Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo by Guo Yanqi/chinadaily.com.cn]

This year's expo will cover 130,000 square meters and feature 13 pavilions, including those covering trade in services, green energy, manufacturing, biomedicine and healthcare, culture and tourism, sports, and agriculture, according to Liu Yong, vice-governor of Yunnan province.

Liu said the event aims to create new drivers of cooperation and promote exchanges in openness, trade, industrial collaboration, people-to-people ties, and consumption.

Trade and economic cooperation between China and South Asia has remained resilient and robust, according to Wang Liping, director of the Department of Asian Affairs at MOC. "Last year, the trade volume exceeded $200 billion for the first time, up 10.7 percent year-on-year," he said.

Partner companies of the 10th China-South Asia Expo showcased their products at the expo's promotional conference in Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo by Guo Yanqi/chinadaily.com.cn]

Wang called for stronger cooperation in areas including branding, cross-border e-commerce, and the green economy.

Diplomatic representatives at the event also highlighted the expo's role in promoting bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

This year's theme country is set to be Bangladesh. Md. Nazmul Islam, Bangladesh's ambassador to China, said the country would use the expo to showcase its economic potential, diverse culture, and export products.

Partner companies of the 10th China-South Asia Expo showcased their products at the expo's promotional conference in Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo by Guo Yanqi/chinadaily.com.cn]

Khalil Hashmi, Pakistan's ambassador to China, noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. He hoped that the expo could help further upgrade bilateral trade and deepen investment cooperation.

The expo secretariat said the expo would build on the complementary strengths of China, South Asia, and neighboring regions, while further highlighting Yunnan's role as a gateway to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Ocean region.