Last week, Kunming, Yunnan, played host to the 6th China-South Asia Cooperation Forum, a significant gathering that brought together over 200 influential figures from more than ten countries, including China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Nepal. Dignitaries, diplomats, and representatives from the business and cultural sectors convened both in-person and virtually under the theme “Join Hands for Open and Inclusive Development,” aiming to forge new avenues for regional collaboration.Since its inception in 2018, the China-South Asia Cooperation Forum has served as a crucial multilateral diplomatic platform for China, South Asian nations, and Indian Ocean Rim countries. This year’s event, co-hosted by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, featured an opening ceremony, three insightful sub-forums, and various thematic discussions and interviews.
Xu Feihong, Chinese Ambassador to India, highlighted the growing bond between China and South Asian countries. He noted that recent years have seen a new chapter of friendship unfold, driven by high-level exchanges, the Belt and Road Initiative, collaborations in vital livelihood sectors, and robust people-to-people connections. “We are willing to continue the time-honored friendship with South Asian countries by strengthening strategic coordination, deepening pragmatic cooperation, and expanding people-to-people exchanges, to tighten cooperation ties, and jointly grow the pie of our shared interests,” he affirmed.
Ahmed Nazim, Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Maldives, emphasized the importance of trust and mutual understanding in fostering true cooperation, citing the strong Maldives-China relationship as a testament. As an island nation, he stressed that the Maldives’ future hinges on connectivity, sustainability, and development resilience. He expressed the nation’s readiness to collaborate with China and other South Asian countries to advance open, inclusive, and sustainable regional development through enhanced connectivity, economic links, and cultural exchanges.
Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment of Sri Lanka, shared his country’s focus on transitioning to green energy, coastal ecological conservation, and sustainable agricultural development. Recognizing China’s leadership in these areas, he expressed optimism for deeper cooperation.
The forum also welcomed a perspective from beyond South Asia. Abdullah Al Saleh, Under Secretary of the UAE Ministry of Economy, highlighted the deep and enduring cooperation between the UAE and China in economic, technological, and cultural spheres. He noted that China is the UAE’s largest global trading partner, while the UAE is China’s largest export market and second-largest trading partner in the Middle East. Al Saleh expressed a strong desire to further collaboration with China and South Asian nations in emerging fields such as smart logistics, digital trade, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture.
