Chinese commerce ministry officials on Friday stressed the importance of expanding trade ties with South Asia, “especially against the backdrop of the current turbulent and uncertain international and regional situation.”
China and South Asian countries should deepen supply chain cooperation and expand beyond infrastructure, transport and power into emerging sectors including e-commerce and biomedicine, Vice Commerce Minister Yan Dong said at a press conference on Friday.
Trade between China and South Asian countries exceeded $200 billion in 2025 and grew 15.8 percent year on year in the first four months of 2026, Yan said.
China is now the largest trading partner of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, he said.
Beijing seeks to further improve trade liberalization and facilitation through bilateral mechanisms, trade working groups and free trade arrangements to lower costs and make business easier.