China and Sri Lanka have accelerated economic collaboration, with bilateral trade soaring to $5.36 billion in 2024 – a 30% year-on-year increase that underscores deepening regional integration. The growth, driven by $4.97 billion in Chinese exports and $392 million in Sri Lankan imports, positions China as Colombo’s second-largest trading partner.
This momentum will take center stage at the 9th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming (June 19-24), where Sri Lanka holds guest-of-honor status. The event is expected to showcase sectors ripe for cross-border investment, including Sri Lanka’s tea, spices, and tourism services.
Analysts note the partnership balances Sri Lanka’s import needs for machinery and electronics with China’s growing appetite for South Asian agricultural products. For investors eyeing Indo-Pacific supply chains, the trade surge signals opportunities in logistics and manufacturing tie-ups.
With over 1,000 Sri Lankan enterprises set to exhibit in Yunnan Province – a hub connecting Southeast Asia – the expo may further catalyze China’s role in regional development initiatives. As one Colombo-based trader told KhabarAsia: 'This isn’t just about goods; it’s about building bridges for sustainable growth.'
