STORY: Vlog: A taste of delicacies at China-South Asia Expo
DATELINE: Aug. 20, 2023
LENGTH: 00:04:18
LOCATION: KUNMING, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP 1 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent
2. various of the expo
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WARUSAPPERUMA, Marketing director, Sinolan Tea Private Limited
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SACHITH DAKSHITHA GOONATILLEKE, Director, Gennspice Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd.
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): AVA BAYAT, Commercial manager, Persian Impression Beijing Trading Company
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): THIENG SOMSAT, Chairman, Meely Decore Sole Co. Ltd.

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent
"I'm at the 7th China-South Asia Expo, which is in full swing in the beautiful city of China's Kunming. This year's event is bustling with over 30,000 exhibitors, representatives and guests from 85 countries and regions, and international organizations. Many Exhibitors are attending this year's event through online mediums. And I'm super excited to get stuck into an array of delicacies at the Southeast Asia pavilion."

Durian cake and cashew.
Flower tea from Iran.
Bird's nest from Malaysia.
Coffee from Vietnam.

STANDUP 2 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent
"You want to try some? Bon appetit!
How is the durian cake? Shall we have some Ceylon tea?"

STANDUP 3 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent
"Myanmar is the country of honor of this year's event. Let's discover more about its products.
Beer from Myanmar? But no alcohol for today."

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WARUSAPPERUMA, Marketing director, Sinolan Tea Private Limited
"We are participating in this China-South Asia Expo from 2012. And I'm doing Sri Lankan black tea. This is our brand name. The Sinolan brand name is very famous in Yunnan Province.
When it comes to tea culture, our countries' tea cultures are a little bit similar. We welcome people with tea. When visitors come to our house, we offer them tea. In your province, (it's) also the same.
My main expectation is to have our brand presented here, and let people try out and drink and taste Sri Lankan taste and fragrance.
I see good development of the Chinese economy and culture.
I really like Kunming because Kunming is a little similar to Sri Lanka (in terms of) weather, culture, and everything. Through tea, we can connect two countries' cultures together."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SACHITH DAKSHITHA GOONATILLEKE, Director, Gennspice Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd.
"We are a Sri Lankan-based coconut company. We mainly manufacture virgin coconut oil.
It's an alternative energy source apart from sugars and you can use it for hair, skin, massage, and all.
As I experienced in Kunming, everyone is so into technology, and it's totally different from Sri Lanka as I saw people use more e-commerce here.
So I think e-commerce is the way forward in China.
It's all a new experience for me."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): AVA BAYAT, Commercial manager, Persian Impression Beijing Trading Company
"Nice to meet you, madam. Welcome to Iran. It's the 7th year that we attended the economic exhibition and everything is great.
We imported Iranian carpets, handicrafts, and food products to China.
Here we have the Iranian saffron. And as you know, the Iranian saffron is so famous all over the world.
It's about to have 10 years that we have business here in China. At first, people didn't know anything even about my country, but we attended the exhibition, worked on the culture and introduced Iranian products and Iranian people to the Chinese. And hopefully, we are successful. And I invite you and the other Chinese people to come to Iran and visit my country. It's our pleasure."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): THIENG SOMSAT, Chairman, Meely Decore Sole Co. Ltd.
"Our company has participated in the expo for ten years.
Our tea is very popular. Our tea comes from Laos, and it's all in its natural state. It originates from ancient trees, some as old as three to four hundred years, and we can't use pesticides due to that.
Our product is highly recognized and welcomed in both China and other foreign countries.
China has a long history. Our tea is like a bond between China and Laos. We can gradually foster a better China-Laos friendship through communication."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kunming, China.
(XHTV)