The 9th China–South Asia International Expo opened Thursday in Kunming City, China, with the participation of Afghan traders.

Afghan business owners are showcasing a variety of products in 88 booths, including carpets, handicrafts, dried fruits, and saffron.

The exhibition features 1,400 companies from 54 countries around the world.

Ali Maysam, an Afghan exhibitor, said: "I’m very happy that I was able to participate this year. It gave us the opportunity to display our products alongside 29 other countries and attract many buyers."

Another exhibitor, Mohammad Jan, said: "This exhibition is very important for Afghan products, especially carpets. Through such events, we can sell our carpets and make new business deals."

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Carpet Producers and Exporters Union considers the expo an excellent opportunity to introduce domestic products—especially carpets—to international markets and to build connections with foreign traders.

Abdul Manan Haidari, CEO of the Carpet Union, said: "The key point is that China is the second-largest economy in the world, so we have the opportunity to attract long-term buyers."

The Kunming Expo is one of the region’s largest trade exhibitions and is held annually with participation from Asian and other countries.

This year, the expo is being held from June 19 to 24 in Kunming City, Yunnan Province.