Expo enhances China's trade ties with Eurasia

China reiterated its commitment to deepening economic cooperation with Eurasian countries at the opening ceremony of the five-day China-Eurasia Expo in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on Wednesday.

Gao Yunlong, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, highlighted China's ongoing efforts to broaden areas of cooperation and elevate the quality of partnerships with Eurasian economies.

"Eurasian countries have rich resources, a large consumer market and production capacity. There is huge space for regional cooperation between China and Eurasian countries," Gao said.

Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed in 2013, China has always supported Eurasian countries, explored new ways for development between near and far neighbors, and benefited countries in the region and around the world, Gao said.

Since 2011, the China-Eurasia expo has been successfully held seven times, bringing together more than 12,200 domestic and foreign exhibitors from more than 70 countries and regions, and a total of 2.16 million visits. The expo has played a positive role in helping China and Eurasian countries deepen economic and trade cooperation and enhance people-to-people exchanges.

The Eighth China-Eurasia Expo, themed "New Opportunities of Silk Road, New Vitality for Eurasian Cooperation", is spread across 140,000 square meters, with four major exhibition zones showcasing investment cooperation, international exhibition, special industries and equipment manufacturing. A total of 50 countries, regions and international organizations, and more than 1,000 domestic enterprises and institutions are participating in the exhibition. For the first time, the expo has set up four major exhibition halls: Central Enterprise Hall, Specialized and Innovative Enterprise Hall, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Enterprise Hall, and Xinjiang "Eight Major Industrial Clusters" Industry Chain Leading Enterprise Hall.

Representatives from participating countries expressed optimism about the potential of the expo.

Urmat Takirov, director of the Kyrgyz Export Center run by Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Economy and Commerce, said: "This is a good opportunity for us to promote our products in the Chinese market through Xinjiang. We hope the good relationship between us will be enhanced and our future is bright together."

Dzhumaev Mukhammadzhon from Tajikistan expressed his eagerness to double or even triple the number of booths showcasing his country at the next expo. "The expo is an excellent platform that can bring us good opportunities. I hope entrepreneurs from Tajikistan can seize the opportunity to enter the Chinese market," he said.

Daria Vereschagina, an exhibitor from Uzbekistan, highlighted Xinjiang's strategic importance. "Xinjiang plays an important role as a land bridge, and we hope to carry our art products through freight trains more easily," she said.

Xinjiang serves as China's western exit to the New Eurasian Land Bridge, one of six major corridors envisioned by the BRI.