Interview: China-South Asia Expo offers market opportunities for Myanmar products, says Myanmar official

YANGON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing seventh China-South Asia Expo in China's southwestern city of Kunming presents a great opportunity for Myanmar products to broaden their market horizons, a senior Myanmar official said.

Htein Lin, deputy director-general of Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization under the Ministry of Commerce, expressed his optimism about the expo's impact on Myanmar's export sector, citing the potential it holds for fostering growth in the Southeast Asian country's trade endeavors.

"The expo will help Myanmar bring its products into the Chinese market, providing a significant potential to elevate Myanmar's exports in the future," Htein told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Htein believed that the topics of discussions during the expo, including bilateral trade, economic exchanges and cross-border facilitation, will yield positive results.

Having actively engaged in the China-South Asia Expos in previous years, Myanmar remains as a participant in this year's event to explore business expansion and strengthen collaboration with China, he said.

More than 100 Myanmar businesspersons were showcasing a range of products, including agricultural goods, arts, crafts, food items and jewelry with 35 booths during the five-day expo, he said.

He also emphasized the expo's role in promoting Myanmar's products not only in the Chinese market but also among the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The seventh China-South Asia Expo on Aug. 16-20 in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, attracts 30,000 exhibitors, representatives and guests from 85 countries and regions, as well as international organizations.

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

China is Myanmar's leading trading partner and a significant source of foreign investment, and Myanmar has been participating in various expos and trade fairs hosted by China, he said.

The official also underscored the pivotal role of expos, including the China-South Asia Expo, in fostering direct connections between Myanmar's products and Chinese consumers, while also offering opportunities to enhance collaboration between the two neighbors.

Regarding China's economic development, Htein said, "China's economic development brings about opportunities not only for Myanmar but also for South Asian nations." Anticipating technical support and assistance from China, he emphasized the potential for South Asian countries to reap substantial benefits from China's economic growth.

As the expo continues to facilitate dialogues, discussions and forums, the trade volume between China and South Asian countries has surged from less than 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2013 to a notable 197.4 billion U.S. dollars last year. The expo has become an important platform for nurturing diplomatic, trade and cultural bonds across the region.

Noting that trade exhibitions in China have offered good market opportunities, he said, "Myanmar will continue to participate in the upcoming expos."