10th China‑South Asia Expo in Yunnan hits $200 billion trade milestone: 87,000 artisans, AI customs, and Bangladesh as featured country
Textiles, tea, leather bags, home decor, handicrafts — over 10 thematic pavilions, national halls, and a new service trade zone. China‑South Asia trade grew 10.7% in 2025, crossing $200 billion.
As reported by CCTV+, from textiles and tea to home decor and crafts, participants from across South Asia and beyond are showcasing their products at the 10th China‑South Asia Expo, which opened on Thursday in Yunnan Province, southwest China. The expo, a key platform for economic and trade exchange between China and South Asian countries, brings together enterprises, government officials and investors from across the region. This year, Bangladesh is the featured country.
Handaker Abdul Muktadir, Minister of Commerce, Industry, Textiles and Jute of Bangladesh, said: "This expo gives them (our participants) an opportunity to present their goods to the Chinese market, which will open up for further development. Similarly, we want to convey to Chinese investors that Bangladesh is currently a very promising investment destination." The expo comes as economic ties between China and South Asia expand. Official data shows that trade between China and South Asian countries exceeded $200 billion in 2025, up 10.7% year‑on‑year. This strong momentum continues into this year.
Mohammad Minhaz Uddin, an exhibitor from Bangladesh, shared: "Altogether, 87,000 artisans work with us. Many of our products are handcrafted — leather bags, home decor items. We definitely expect to attract visitors' attention and receive very good feedback." Orangzaib Khan, an exhibitor from Pakistan, added: "This is a very good platform. You can find new buyers, make good friends, establish useful connections."
In addition to national pavilions, the expo features over 10 thematic exhibition halls covering advanced manufacturing, green development, modern agriculture and regional cooperation. A highlight is the newly established service trade pavilion, which showcases new business models, technologies and the latest achievements in the service trade sector. This reflects China's efforts to expand high‑quality openness and deepen cooperation with regional partners.
Tian Jingyu, representative of Maxvision Technology, noted: "We are entering the era of artificial intelligence and robotics. Yunnan Province has many border checkpoints, especially those connecting it with Southeast Asian countries like Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. We hope to actively introduce advanced robotics and AI technologies to make customs clearance more intelligent and efficient."
The China‑South Asia Expo has been held annually since 2015. It covers India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. In 2025, bilateral trade exceeded $200 billion for the first time. The service trade pavilion is a new addition in 2026, designed to show how digitalization and AI are transforming logistics, finance and border control.
When 87,000 artisans craft a leather bag and it ends up on a shelf in Kunming, it is not just trade. It is trust. The Yunnan expo is a bridge where not only goods cross, but also ideas, contracts, travel routes, and now smart customs. When a Pakistani businessman finds a friend there, and a Bangladeshi minister invites investors, it becomes clear: the economies of South Asia and China have long been intertwined. Technology only accelerates the dance. But the artisans, hand‑carving patterns by hand, remain its soul.
