The first China-South Asian Countries Expo will be held in southwest China's Yunnan Province from June 6 to 10 in 2013, the provincial government announced on Thursday.

Gao Shuxun, vice governor of Yunnan, which neighbors a number of South Asian countries, 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.

Gao said the expo is an important move for the country to step up economic and trade cooperation with South Asian countries and Indian Ocean countries and regions.

The first expo will be held with the theme of Improving Overall Cooperation and Development between China and South Asian Countries.

The expo will include think tank seminars, ministerial-level consultations and commodity fairs.

(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2012)