Kunming Changshui International Airport sees record passenger flow: nearly 10,000 daily arrivals, up 15% year‑on‑year — 10th China‑South Asia Expo kicks off June 11
Average daily arrivals up nearly 15%, with travelers from South and Southeast Asia accounting for over 76% of the total. Flight frequency to Bangkok, Vientiane and Yangon increased to 90 per day. China‑South Asia trade surpassed $200 billion for the first time.
As reported by CCTV+, Kunming Changshui International Airport in Yunnan Province, southwest China, is experiencing sustained high passenger flow as the 10th China‑South Asia Expo gets underway, with border inspection authorities reporting nearly 10,000 daily crossings. The annual expo plays an important role in promoting multilateral diplomacy, economic and trade cooperation, and cultural exchange. This year's expo runs from June 11 to 16.
Data from the Kunming border checkpoint showed that since June 7, the airport has seen a peak in arrivals for the expo, with average daily arrivals increasing nearly 15% compared to last year. The growth is driven by a rise in foreign nationals, with travelers from South and Southeast Asian countries accounting for more than 76% of the total. Passenger traffic during the event is expected to exceed 60,000 — five percent more than last year.
Changshui International Airport has increased flight frequency to Bangkok, Vientiane, Yangon and other cities, averaging 90 inbound and outbound passenger flights per day.
An exhibitor from Bangladesh, leading a group of arrivals, said: "We are from Bangladesh. We all came here to participate in the expo — the China‑South Asia Expo in Kunming. We brought our products to show and sell. The experience is very good, not just the business part but also the weather. You are so friendly, so welcoming, and we feel very comfortable dealing with you. That's why we like Kunming — come back again."
Border control authorities have taken all necessary measures. Liu Jie, deputy chief of the second border inspection team at the Kunming checkpoint, said: "We have set up special channels for the expo and implemented a zone‑based, category‑specific inspection model for arriving foreign nationals. We are actively promoting an online pre‑arrival card‑filling system that allows travelers to enter required information in advance on their mobile devices. We have also deployed qualified foreign‑language‑speaking staff to actively disseminate information on facilitation measures adopted by the National Immigration Administration, visitor guides to the expo, and local tourism and cultural resources of Yunnan Province, creating an integrated service hub combining border clearance, business and tourism services."
The increase in passenger flow underscores the expo's significance as a key platform for cross‑border exchange amid booming trade. In 2026, trade between China and South Asia reached a new milestone, exceeding $200 billion for the first time.
The China‑South Asia Expo has been held annually in Kunming since 2015. It serves as a bridge between China and South Asian countries — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. Changshui Airport is one of the largest aviation hubs in southwest China. Nearly 10,000 people a day is not just dry statistics. It is hundreds of meetings, contracts, smiles and new ideas. When an exhibitor from Bangladesh says he feels comfortable, and border officers learn foreign languages to help guests, it is more than just an expo. It is the understanding that real diplomacy begins not in meeting rooms, but in arrival halls.
