By John Sexton

China.org.cn staff reporter

The 2nd South Asian Countries Commodity Fair will be held in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, from June 6-10, 2009, the Chinese government has announced in Beijing.

Gu Chaoxi, deputy governor of Yunnan Province, said the fair will be jointly hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the Yunnan provincial government, and the trade ministries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Deputy Governor of Yunnan Province Gu Chaoxi (left) and China's Vice Commerce Minster Chen Jian announce that Kunming will host the 2nd South Asian Countries Commodity Fair [China.org.cn]

China's Vice Commerce Minister Chen Jian said the fair is part of a drive to encourage South Asian exporters to enter the Chinese market. Trade between China and South Asia has increased rapidly in recent years to 66 billion US dollars annually, but the balance is heavily in China's favor.

China is determined to boost imports from South Asia, Chen said. "We have reduced tariffs on goods from South Asian countries. We have encouraged South Asian countries to come to promote their products in China. The 2nd South Asia fair is the most tangible example of our efforts."

Gu Chaoxi said the organizers had already received confirmed orders for 355 exhibition booths at the fair. On the Chinese side those attending will include major importers as well as businesses interested in investing in South Asian countries.

The fair organizers will provide participants with free exhibition facilities and accommodation and meet all transportation costs within China, as well as assisting with customs clearance and product promotion.

Gu said the 2nd South Asian Commodities Fair will be held in parallel and share facilities with the 17th Kunming Import and Export Fair. Sun Xiaohong, director general of the Yunnan Department of Commerce, said the Kunming Import and Export Fair had been held successfully for 16 years and is one of the top ten trade fairs in China. "The two fairs will complement each other and attract more business," he said.

Gu said the fair would also provide the opportunity for a high level meeting between China and officials from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The meeting will focus on the global economic situation, enhancing cooperation, removing trade protectionism, and poverty reduction, he said.

The first South Asian Commodities fair was held in Beijing in 2007 and attracted over 200 participants.

The opening ceremony of the 2nd South Asian Countries Commodity Fair will begin at 9 am on June 6, 2009, at the Kunming International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Further information can be obtained from the fair website: http://www.kmsacc.com/

(China.org.cn April 11, 2009)