2nd Hunan(Huaihua)RCEP Economic and Trade Expo Kicks Off

On May9,the2nd Hunan(Huaihua) RCEP Economic and Trade Expo officially opened in Huaihua,Hunan Province, under the theme“Sharing Opportunities Towards a Win-Win Future.”

This year’s Expo invited Thailand as the Guest Country of Honor,Yunnan Province as the Theme Province,and Yueyang City as the Theme City.The event features three major sessions:the Opening Ceremony and RCEP Economic and Trade Investment Promotion Conference,the Promotion Conference on Coordinated Development between the“Dual Corridors”and RCEP Ports,and the Launch Ceremony of the“Global Journey of Intangible Heritage and Trade Hand in Hand”initiative and the opening of the Wuxi Intangible Cultural Heritage Park. In addition,nine specialized matchmaking events are being held,covering sectors such as luggage and leather goods,traditional Chinese medicine,food, bio-based products,cultural tourism under the“Blessed Huaihua”brand, promotion for the Huaihua International Land Port,Yantian International’s sea-rail intermodal business,promotion for Hunan International Trade Group, and an Australia-themed promotion session.Each event brings together over100 buyers and suppliers for targeted matchmaking,helping products go global.

The total exhibition area spans20,000square meters, featuring exhibition zones such as the RCEP National Pavilion,the“Dual Corridors”Pavilion,Huaihua’s“5+10”Industrial Pavilion,the Hunan Cities Pavilion,and the Trade in Services Pavilion.The Expo has attracted over500 exhibitors and more than200buyers from both China and abroad.

During the Expo,nearly200foreign guests—including diplomats stationed in China,overseas Chinese entrepreneurs,and representatives from other RCEP member countries—will form an“International Observation Group.”Meanwhile,19international media outlets—a“Global Reporting Matrix”—will present the outcomes of cultural exchange between Hunan and other RCEP members from multiple perspectives.Huaihua will also showcase its openness through intangible cultural heritage performances and cross-border industry dialogues,vividly interpreting the spirit of“people-to-people connectivity.”

Following the opening ceremony,a signing ceremony was held with28projects signed on-site,totaling an investment of11.886billion yuan(RMB).These projects span various sectors,including luggage and leather goods,traditional Chinese medicine,new display technologies,mechanical equipment,new energy and related equipment,cultural tourism,and commercial logistics.Driven by the construction of its“5+10Modern Industrial System,” Huaihua unveiled142key investment projects for2025,with a combined investment of81.697billion yuan.

The Expo has also brought together a strategic advisory group consisting of Liu Liang,Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering;Xu Ningning,Chairman of the RCEP Industry Cooperation Committee; and Huang Jianlong,Academician of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.These experts provided strategic insights for aligning regional rules and standards.Meanwhile,enterprises such as COSCO Shipping and SF Express are building out logistics and supply chain networks, and over70ports and logistics platforms linked to the New Western Land-Sea Corridor are jointly shaping a blueprint for integrated intermodal transportation.Additionally,the Expo showcases cutting-edge technologies such as Unitree Robotics,AI-powered traditional Chinese medicine,and digital human broadcasting,making trade cooperation more visible,tangible,and interactive.