Open and sincere, Kunming welcomes the world; in its summer months, gentle breezes are a constant companion. The second season of the "A Letter from Kunming" international communication series event is now in full swing. From a Chinese New Year invitation to a refreshing summer welcome, we extend our most heartfelt invitation to friends from around the world to discover Kunming.

This June, the 10th China-South Asia Expo will take place as scheduled from June 11 to 16 on the shores of Dianchi Lake. Business representatives from more than 60 countries and regions will gather in Kunming, turning this 21°C city of refreshing coolness into a global beacon of openness.

The China-South Asia Expo sets the stage, and Spring City sends its invitation. After 13 years of steady development, the Expo has become a key platform for connectivity between China and South and Southeast Asian countries. Kunming, with its open and inclusive spirit, adds the warmest touch to this grand event. Come to Kunming. Amid its 21°C summer breezes, explore new business opportunities, forge friendships across borders, and take home unforgettable memories of Spring City.

Come to Kunming for cooperation and connect with a broader future through the Expo

Since its launch in 2013, the China-South Asia Expo has grown steadily and continued to upgrade, reaching a new milestone with its 10th edition this year. Over 13 years, it has evolved far beyond a mere exhibition into an enduring cooperation bridge linking Southwest China to the world, and particularly to South and Southeast Asia, opening up a vast market with nearly 4 billion people to global investors and innovators.

This year's 10th Expo is more thoughtful, practical and results-oriented. The newly launched procurement matchmaking center and exhibitor pop-up zone will help close gaps in trade matching, make supply-and-demand connections more direct, and turn business opportunities into concrete results more efficiently. More than 10 targeted industrial matchmaking events, over 200 quality industrial sites and six themed inspection routes have been designed for business visitors, offering clear and tangible pathways to cooperation.

Innovation is the defining feature of this year's Expo. For the first time, the International Public Procurement Conference for the South Asian Markets will be held to match participants with global official procurement opportunities. Also for the first time, the Expo will link with several major exhibitions across China to share high-quality global buyer resources. It will continue to provide nearly 800 free booths for South Asian countries, helping distinctive products from abroad reach households across China.

Today, more than 1,000 professional buyers are gathering in Spring City, with a strong contingent of overseas business representatives and numerous countries making their debut. Opportunities are always present, and the timing could not be better. Kunming looks forward to welcoming business people from around the world to use the Expo as a gateway to Yunnan, put down roots in Spring City and connect with South and Southeast Asia. Forge sincere partnerships and build a shared future of mutual benefit.

Come to Kunming to explore the exhibition halls, discover global treasures, and experience Spring City's openness

The exhibition halls by Dianchi Lake offer a window into an open Kunming and a stage where quality products from around the world converge. Thirteen themed halls form a dynamic layout where industry, culture and everyday life meet, and where premium products, distinctive industries and cultural traditions from different countries and regions come together through exchange and integration.

Here, neighborly ties are close at hand. Quality products from all eight South Asian countries will be showcased: Bangladesh's specialty industries, Sri Lanka's Ceylon tea and gems, Nepal's intangible cultural heritage Thangka paintings, and India's natural spices. These exhibits vividly capture the distinctive charm of each region. Supported by the connectivity of the China-Laos Railway, Southeast Asian products such as Thai latex, Vietnamese coffee, and Myanmar jade travel back and forth with growing momentum in a two-way trade flow. This year, for the first time, a group of seven national embassies and consulates will participate in the expo together, while specialty products from Europe and the Americas will make their debut, allowing the 21°C summer of Spring City to offer a panoramic view of global cultures.

Here, the future of industry unfolds before your eyes. The Services Trade Pavilion, making its debut as a standalone venue, will spotlight emerging opportunities in digital services, cross-border finance, and cultural and creative products inspired by traditional Chinese aesthetics. The Green Energy Pavilion will showcase Southwest China's strengths in green development, with solar photovoltaic, wind power and ultra-high-voltage technologies highlighting low-carbon momentum. The Manufacturing Pavilion and the Domestic Cooperation Pavilion will bring together standout enterprises from across China. New materials, low-altitude equipment and intelligent manufacturing will be among the highlights. "Specialized, sophisticated, distinctive and innovative" enterprises with novel and unique products will also share the platform to explore new industrial opportunities.

Here, a better life can be seen and felt. The full-chain presentation of the coffee industry, the debut of the "Yunyu Aquatic Products" brand, and the immersive cultural tourism, wellness and healthcare exhibition area will turn the idea of "Yunnan: A Many-Splendored Life" into tangible exhibits and vivid scenes. The China-South Asia Expo (Dali) International Photography Exhibition will present more than 500 images that capture friendships across mountains and seas. One-stop foreign trade services provide end-to-end support, ensuring smooth transactions and peace of mind for all participants.

As a featured part of the "A Letter from Kunming" international communication series event, this year's Expo will include a special episode of "Lancang-Mekong Youth in Kunming." Youth ambassadors from the six Lancang-Mekong countries will visit the exhibition halls, take part in exchanges, and tell the stories of the Expo from a youthful perspective.

Come to Kunming, slow down, and enjoy a pleasant 21°C summer

Kunming offers the world more than business opportunities. It also offers the poetry and beauty of urban life. Visitors from afar can slow down after busy rounds of negotiations and step into the 21°C summer of Spring City, experiencing its laid-back vibe, vitality and romance with all five senses.

In the morning, step into Zhuanxin Farmers' Market for a bowl of Douhua (tofu pudding) rice noodles, and bite into a grilled Erkuai (rice cake), lightly crisp on the outside and soft and chewy within, feeling the warm pulse of city life. In the afternoon, stroll through Dounan Flower Market, take home a bouquet of romance for just a few yuan, and witness the journey of a flower from the fields to the world. In the evening, head into the hills for a wild-mushroom experience: visit the China Wild Mushroom Museum to discover the secrets of Yunnan's prized mushrooms, then savor a steaming wild mushroom hot pot at the table. At night, enjoy the evening breeze and sunset by Dianchi Lake, or wander through Nanqiang Street to experience Kunming's relaxed yet trendy energy.

Openness with impact, a city with warmth. Here, you can become an experiencer, collecting the beauty of a 21°C summer with all five senses; a storyteller, recording the highlights of the Expo through images and words; or a connector, serving as a bridge between China and the world. You are welcome to share your Expo journey on Weibo, Douyin, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube and other social media platforms with the hashtags #ALetterfromKunming, so that more people can discover Kunming, be inspired by it, and make the journey here.

Ten editions of the Expo have borne witness to Kunming's journey of openness; a city of gentle breezes awaits your arrival. Spring City has prepared 21°C coolness, flowers that bloom through all seasons, fragrant mountain delicacies and boundless opportunities for cooperation. Let us meet in Kunming, keep our appointment with the Expo, draw up a shared blueprint for cooperation, and enjoy a poetic summer together.

Appendix: "A Letter from Kunming" Event Participation Guide

Click here to view the Chinese report

(Editors: Diana, Jennifer)