[InKunming--China]  Trade between Sri Lanka and China took center-stage at the China-South Asia Expo in Kunming with the pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries also being a talking point, the External Affairs Ministry said on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) in collaboration with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing organized the Sri Lanka Pavilion at the 2nd China - South Asia Expo in Kunming.

A total of 135 Sri Lankan companies took part in displaying and promoting product sectors such as gems and jewelry, tea, batik and handicraft.

Sri Lanka's Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody met Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang on the sidelines of the Kunming Expo. "Vice Premier Wang Yang, while commending Sri Lanka's active participation at the Expo expressed the hope that the proposed FTA between the two countries would contribute greatly towards the expansion of bilateral trade between China and Sri Lanka," a statement from the External Affairs Ministry said. Also on the sidelines of the 2nd China-South Asia Expo, the 6th Session of the Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation between China and Sri Lanka was held in Kunming.

A wide range of issues relating to Sri Lanka-China trade and economic cooperation was discussed by the two sides at the meeting. The China-South Asia Expo, organized by the Chinese government, provides an economic cooperation platform, linking traders from South Asian and ASEAN countries with traders in China and affords a good opportunity to increase awareness in the region about the export and import products of those countries.