Some 600,000 tulips are in full blossoms in a local park in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan province on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, attracting an average of 20,000 people to visit on a daily basis. The tulips are said to be imported from the Netherlands and bloom for only 25 days. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

The exposition, themed "accelerating cooperation and development between China and South Asia and Southeast Asia", establishes a platform for China and South/Southeast Asian countries to enhance their cultural ties.

Gao Yan, vice-minister of commerce, said,"The cooperation potential is huge for China and South Asia, as we have increasing common interests. The growing demands for projects, closer relationship among companies on both sides, as well as the growing wishes for further cooperation are testaments to the potential."

"In the first quarter of 2016, the volume of international trade between China and South Asia was $25.6 billion," Gao said.

With a huge demand, South Asia is a key construction contracting market for China. Chinese companies' newly signed contracts in the area reached $5.1 billion in the first quarter, up 200 percent year-on-year.

"China has been the main source of foreign investment for South Asian countries. Better yet, the biggest foreign investment for some South Asia countries," Gao said.