STORY: China fosters regional economic ties through expos
DATELINE: Aug. 28, 2023
LENGTH: 0:03:25
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of China
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Korean): KIM DONG-PIL, Chairman of Nexpharm Korea
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): GHAZARYAN KORYUN, Economic counselor, Armenian embassy in China
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CHAMARA UDUGAMA, Exhibitor from Sri Lanka
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): CHOKI DORJI, Exhibitor from Bhutan

STORYLINE:

In the face of the challenges of a post-pandemic global landscape, several offline exhibitions targeting neighboring countries have been organized in China this year, as part of its efforts to drive the revitalization and growth of both the domestic and global economies.

The 14th China-Northeast Asia Expo, which concluded on Sunday in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, saw the offline participation of over 20,000 merchants from 123 countries and regions.

Investment deals worth 84.48 billion yuan (about 11.59 billion U.S. dollars) were reached during the five-day expo.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Korean): KIM DONG-PIL, Chairman of Nexpharm Korea
"We are looking for Chinese companies that can cooperate with us in technology. We hope to share our technology with Chinese companies so that we can jointly develop products and explore the Chinese market and the Korean market together. We look forward to such an opportunity."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): GHAZARYAN KORYUN, Economic counselor, Armenian embassy in China
"Armenia has a well-developed agricultural industry, but we lack machinery equipment. We're interested in many products here, such as robotic sprayers and robotic vehicles. We'd like to find out how we can collaborate."

Since its inception in 2005, the expo has witnessed the signing of more than 3,000 cooperation projects with a total investment value exceeding 2 trillion yuan (about 275 billion U.S. dollars).

The event has become a significant platform for building consensus and forging economic and trade cooperation between China and its neighboring countries, and even beyond.

Official data showed that in 2022, the trade volume between China and five other countries in Northeast Asia totaled 923.2 billion U.S. dollars, up 3.8 percent year on year.

On Aug. 20, the seventh China-South Asia Expo concluded in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The five-day expo attracted over 30,000 exhibitors as well as representatives and guests from 85 countries, regions and international organizations.

More than 340 investment projects with a total investment of 412.65 billion yuan (about 56.6 billion U.S. dollars) were signed during the event.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CHAMARA UDUGAMA, Exhibitor from Sri Lanka
"We have been visiting Kunming (for) the China-South Asia Expo (for) many times. We have seen the Kunming fair growing larger, and we have been getting a lot of support from the Yunnan government and the people, the organizers. It has been a very pleasant stay during our exhibition. We look forward to a good cooperation with Chinese business people to have a joint venture."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): CHOKI DORJI, Exhibitor from Bhutan
"I get to experience the culture of different countries where I have not been before. And we get to meet very different people. I think it's going to get better and better."

The first China-South Asia Expo was held in Kunming in 2013 when the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed.

Over the past 10 years, the expo has witnessed closer ties between China and South Asia, with the trade volume between China and South Asian countries doubling to 197.4 billion U.S. dollars last year.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)