This aerial photo taken on Aug. 7, 2023 shows a view of Kunming Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center, the venue for the seventh China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The seventh China-South Asia Expo kicked off Wednesday in Kunming.

An exhibitor (L) introduces products at the seventh China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Aug. 16, 2023. The seventh China-South Asia Expo kicked off Wednesday in Kunming.

Leaders and government officials from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Maldives, have attended the 7th China-South Asia Expo which kicked off in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, on Wednesday.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Lao Vice President Pany Yathotou, Nepalese Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, and Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attended the opening ceremony of the expo, Xinhua News Agency reported Thursday.

According to the Foreign Ministry of Nepal, the country’s Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav left for Kunming on Monday to start his week-long state visit to China.

Nepal is designated as a “Theme Country” at the Expo, with a Nepal Pavilion set up, in which more than 100 Nepali traders will showcase their products.

The vice president would inaugurate the Nepal Pavilion, said the country’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday.

According to Sunday Times, a media outlet in Sri Lanka, the country's Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena arrived at Kunming International Airport on Tuesday accompanied by a delegation.

“PM Gunawardena is on a four-day official visit in China where he will be the Chief Guest at the 7th China-South Asia Expo and the 27th China Kunming Import and Export Exhibition,” said the media outlet.

Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Tran Luu Quang on Tuesday met with Secretary of the provincial Party Committee of China’s Yunnan Province Wang Ning during the Vietnamese leader’s trip to Yunnan to attend the opening ceremony of the 7th China-South Asia Expo and the 27th Kunming Import and Export Fair, Vietnam News Agency reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the deputy prime minister highlighted the new development steps in cooperation between Vietnamese localities and Yunnan over the past time and affirmed Vietnam's consistent policy in strengthening friendly neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation with China.

He suggested that both sides should strive to lift trade value between Vietnamese localities and Yunnan to five billion U.S. dollars in the next few years, strengthen connectivity of railway and road transport infrastructure; expand tourism cooperation, and share experience in poverty reduction and sustainable development, said the media outlet.

A Myanmar delegation led by Kan Zaw, union minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, U Maung Maung Ohn, union minister for Information, and U Aung Naing Oo, union minister for Commerce, departed from Yangon for China on Tuesday to participate in the 7th China-South Asia Expo and the 27th Kunming Import and Export Fair, according to the country’s Ministry of Information.

“This event serves as an avenue to further bolster cooperation and exchange among Southeast Asian nations, fostering discussions on collaboration and friendship. Additionally, the 27th Kunming Import and Export Fair will be unveiled during this comprehensive trade fair, solidifying ties between China and South Asian countries,” it said.

Corporate Maldives, a media outlet of Maldives, on Tuesday said the country’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Khaleel, was set to represent the Maldives at the 4th China-South Asia Cooperation Forum and the 7th China-South Asia Expo from Aug. 16 to 20 in Kunming.

“He will engage in discussions with high-ranking officials from the Yunnan Province to further enhance bilateral cooperation,” it said.

The 7th China-South Asia Expo will be held from Aug. 16 to 20. More than 30,000 exhibitors, representatives and guests from 85 countries and regions, and international organizations, are expected to attend both online and offline activities during the five-day expo.

The expo, themed "Solidarity and Coordination for Common Development," has set up 15 exhibition halls featuring diverse themes including South Asia Pavilion, Southeast Asia Pavilion, resource-based economy pavilion, and port economy pavilion.