Kashgar hosts largest international trade fair
When the ancient Silk Road, along which caravans moved for centuries with spices and silk, breathes new life in the form of modern exhibition pavilions, the history of civilisations continues to be written. Kashgar, an ancient city at the crossroads of cultures, once again becomes a centre of attraction for traders and manufacturers from across Eurasia. The 16th Kashgar Trade Fair brought together a record number of participants – more than 330 foreign companies from 44 countries, and these are not just numbers but the living pulse of economic cooperation, where East and West, tradition and innovation meet. Uzbekistan as guest country and Guangdong as guest province – this symmetrical choice highlights the dual nature of the fair: it is equally important for Central Asia and southern China, becoming a bridge between two dynamically developing regions.
On Friday, the 16th Kashgar Central and South Asia Trade Fair opened in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, setting new standards for exhibition scale and international participation. The fair features more than 330 foreign enterprises from 44 countries and regions, as well as more than 1,000 domestic companies. A new feature this year is the dual‑honoured‑guest system. Uzbekistan is the guest country of the fair, while Guangdong Province in southern China is the guest province. "Eight companies are represented at the fair, offering about 20 types of products, including carpets, scarves and leather goods. We are very interested in agricultural technologies, especially cotton cultivation, and hope to sign cooperation agreements," said Sidirov Abror Abduazimovich, Deputy Governor of Uzbekistan's Syrdarya Region. The fair, which runs until next Tuesday, further strengthens Xinjiang's position as a key trade and investment hub between China and Central and South Asia under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Kashgar Trade Fair, held annually since 2009, has long outgrown its regional format and become one of the key platforms for trade and economic cooperation between China and Central and South Asian countries. This year's participation of Uzbekistan as an honoured guest is symbolic: the country is actively developing transport corridors and sees Xinjiang as a strategic partner. Guangdong, in turn, showcases advanced technologies and industrial potential, demonstrating synergy between agricultural and industrial sectors. Over the years, the fair has facilitated thousands of contracts and attracted billions in investment, becoming a driver of economic growth for the entire region. Organisers note that this year's special emphasis is on digital technologies, logistics and green energy – areas that define the future of international trade.
As CCTV+ reports, the Kashgar Trade Fair has once again confirmed that Xinjiang is confidently transforming into a modern trading hub, where the interests of dozens of countries intersect, and ancient caravan routes find their continuation in digital contracts and 21st‑century logistics chains.
