KPL
The 7th China-South Asia Cooperation Forum opened in Kunming, Yunnan Province, on June 11, bringing together more than 200 government officials, diplomats, business leaders, scholars, and media representatives from across the region to discuss ways to deepen cooperation and promote shared development.
Held under the theme “Deepening Development Partnership and Jointly Building a Neighboring Community with a Shared Future,” the two-day forum serves as a platform to strengthen regional connectivity, expand economic cooperation, and enhance people-to-people exchanges.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Yunnan Governor Wang Yubo highlighted the province’s strategic role as China’s gateway to South and Southeast Asia. He called for closer cooperation in trade, agriculture, public health, cultural exchanges, and governance, emphasizing the importance of creating shared opportunities for development and prosperity.
Chinese Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun noted that trade between China and South Asian countries exceeded US$200 billion in 2025, up 10.7 percent year-on-year, reflecting growing economic ties and regional integration.
He reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with South Asian partners through enhanced connectivity, infrastructure development, trade facilitation, digital innovation, and multilateral collaboration.
Participants also discussed regional and global challenges, including economic uncertainty, sustainable development, food security, and technological transformation, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and mutual trust across the region.
The forum continues through June 12 and is expected to generate new initiatives aimed at promoting regional cooperation and long-term development.
