BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The 2nd China-South Asia Cooperation Forum (CSACF) was held on Monday in Yuxi city, southwest China's Yunnan province, providing a platform for policy dialogues, trade and investment, people-to-people exchanges, and knowledge-sharing between China and South Asian countries.
Under the theme of Stronger Sub-National Partnership for Win-Win Opportunities, the two-day forum has attracted over 500 participants from China and other countries.
A document outlining the vision of China and South Asia for sub-national cooperation in economic and social development was published at the forum. Dialogues between local leaders from China and South Asia, China-South Asia media forum, meetings on economic and trade cooperation among other activities were also held.
China and South Asian countries have made great achievements in infrastructure interconnection, economic and trade development, and cultural exchanges in recent years. Pragmatic cooperation mechanisms such as the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor continue to develop, said Yao Wen, deputy director general of the Department of Asian Affairs under China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The trade value between China and South Asian countries exceeded 140 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, said Yao, adding that the prospect of deepening China-South Asia cooperation remains promising.
With the help of the China-Afghanistan air corridor and direct freight trains, trade between the two countries hit new records last year, said Ajmal Ahmady, acting minister of industry and commerce of Afghanistan. He mentioned that Afghanistan would continue to work with China for jointly contributing to the Belt and Road Initiative, creating more business opportunities, and exporting more commodities with Afghan characteristics to China. (Edited by Su Dan)
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