The first China-South Asian Countries Expo will be held in southwest China's Yunnan Province from June 6 to 10, Gao Shuxun, vice governor of Yunnan said.
China will incorporate the annual South Asian Countries Trade Fair into China-South Asian Countries Expo from 2013.
The event will be held in Yunnan annually, he said.
The expo is an important move for China to step up economic and trade cooperation with South Asian countries and Indian Ocean countries and regions, he said.
Besides India, traders and businessmen from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldives were expected take part in a big way.
Besides expanding its influence, China is looking at the west of its neighbourhood to expand trade with India and other neighbours.
With India alone it has a trade surplus of USD 23 billion this year in the first ten months of this year.
The first expo will be held with the theme of "Improving Overall Cooperation and Development between China and South Asian Countries", Gao said.
The expo will include think tank seminars, ministerial-level consultations and commodity fair, he said.
