KUNMING (China): Smart robots, 3D printers and other high-tech products, besides ethnic cultural shows, marked the opening of the South and South East Asia Commodities Expo here on Monday.
This year, the theme country was Laos and the country of honour was Pakistan, which got more focus during the opening ceremony as well as the display in the pavilions. The expo mostly showcased the ethnic life and culture of the region.
The giant TV screens both on the front and back of the stage showed the marvels made by host China and the One Belt One road initiative. Speakers from the South East Asian countries highlighted the need for a concerted effort for development in the region.
Foreign visitors to the expo were mesmerised by the huge pavilions showcasing various large and small products, from new car models to pickles, from different parts of the world, including India.
The expo is open for the public to browse through mazes of booths promoting a variety of tradable goods mainly from Laos, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China.
China and South Asia and South East Asian countries are enjoying a harvest season, benefiting from multilateral cooperation in commerce, trade, culture and infrastructure construction, the spokesman for China said. The five-day expo in Kunming in Yunnan province is expected to become a key platform for the province’s opening-up.
