CSA Expo grows into an int’l event of global fame

The 10th China-South Asia Exposition (CSA Expo) and the 30th China Kunming Import and Export Commodities Fair opened in central Yunnan’s Kunming city on June 11. Through 10 plus years of development and refinement, the expo has evolved from a regional exhibition into a comprehensive international event covering South Asia, Southeast Asia, and reaching a global audience.

An exterior view of the Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center in central Yunnan’s Kunming city

After five successful sessions, the South Asian Countries Commodity Fair was upgraded to the China-South Asia Exposition in 2013, marking a new height of cooperation between China and South Asian countries. In 2018, exhibitors from 31 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities participated, forging the expo into a platform for cross-regional exchange and resource sharing. In 2022, the expo adopted a online-offline model, moving beyond the traditional few-day exhibition period to enable everyday economic dialogue and cooperation.

The expo's reach has continuously expanded over its ten editions. The expo used to focus on cooperation with neighboring countries in South and Southeast Asia, but now it is becoming a grand international event gathering over 1,500 professional buyers from 69 countries and regions. The countless business tours, economic partnerships, and cross-cultural dialogues bears witness to China's steadfast steps toward greater openness.

From 2007 to 2025, the China-South Asia trade volume has more than tripled. In 2025, trade between China and South Asian countries exceeded the $200 billion mark. In the first four months of this year, China's trade with South Asia continued its strong growth momentum, rising 15.8% year-on-year. Yunnan's trade volume with South Asian and Southeast Asian countries has remained above the 100 billion yuan threshold for eight consecutive years.

"We’ve been at the CSA Expo for all the ten sessions. The expo has allowed our products not only to reach beyond Yunnan but also to enter the South Asian market," said Du Fayuan, Curator of the Xiaguan Tuocha Tea Museum and Dean of the China Tuocha Research Institute. From a single product to a diverse products, this Chinese tea company has leveraged the expo to achieve a leap in branding and marketing.

Sri Lankan exhibitor Mahasen made his first appearance at the expo in 2025, bringing Ceylon black tea. "With the taste of Chinese consumers in mind, we have specially produced a lighter black tea. Participating in the CSA Expo is an excellent opportunity to promote our brand, find partners, and expand into the Chinese market," he said. Another Sri Lankan tea merchant, Ravi, hoped that through the expo, tea could serve as a bridge to enhance culture exchanges between the two peoples.

Born in Yunnan and growing up in the southwestern Chinese province, the CSA Expo serves China's neighborhood diplomacy and high-level opening up. As a landmark for Yunnan's position as the Chinese pivot of opening-up to South and Southeast Asia, the expo is a testament to Yunnan's continuous efforts to expand its opening up and broaden its international cooperation.

The 10th CSA Expo will see its exhibition halls become a medium for exchanges and gain momentum of border opening up. It is shining on the path to deepening China's wide-ranging pragmatic cooperation with South/Southeast Asian countries and beyond. Taking the 10th expo as new start, Yunnan province will break new ground for mutual benefit, shared prosperity, and common progress.

(The writers Luo Rongchan and Zhu Hai are staff reporters with Yunnan Daily.)