Pu’er Border Trade Fair in Menglian County, Puer

Chinese Name:普洱市(孟连)边境经济贸易交易会
English Name: Pu’er Border Trade Fair in Menglian County, Puer

The Pu’er Border Trade Fair (普洱市孟连县边境经济贸易交易会) is a major event aimed at boosting trade and economic collaboration across borders. It was co-hosted by the Pu’er Municipal Government (普洱市人民政府) and the Yunnan Provincial Department of Commerce (云南省商务厅). The fair first launched on December 14, 2012, in Menglian County, Pu’er City.

Event Overview

The Pu’er Border Trade Fair is a significant event in the region, with a focus on enhancing cross-border trade and development. The theme of the fair was “Golden Gateway, Green Development”. Held over three days, the event attracted nearly 2,000 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions, including Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and others.

Key Information

• Location: Menglian County, Pu’er City, Yunnan Province, China

• Theme: “Golden Gateway, Green Development”

• Opening Date: December 14, 2012

• Exhibition Area: 6,000 square meters

• Number of Stalls: 700

Key Events

The fair featured a variety of activities, including the opening ceremony, product exhibitions, investment promotion, and a local food exhibition. In addition, the event showcased culturally rich ethnic performances and local cultural exhibitions.

Highlights of the Trade Fair

A key feature of the trade fair was the specialty product exhibition that attracted exhibitors from 15 countries and regions. These included Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Russia, France, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Some of the standout products included:

• Myanmar: Jade, jewelry

• Thailand: Wood carvings, leather goods, jasmine rice

• Laos: Redwood, rosewood

• Vietnam: Buffalo horn combs, coffee, food

• Malaysia: General goods

• Singapore: Jewelry, accessories

In addition, the fair served as a platform for Pu’er City to introduce over 100 billion RMB in investment projects, including national-level economic cooperation zones, infrastructure at Mengkang Port and Menglian Port, as well as developments in bioengineering, clean energy, forestry, and tourism.

Pu’er’s Geographical Advantages

Pu’er City is strategically located in southwestern Yunnan Province, bordering Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar. It is an important gateway to Southeast Asia, with access to river routes leading to Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Pu’er also features Si Mao Port and Mengkang as national-level ports, making it a critical hub for cross-border trade.

Over the past few years, Pu’er’s foreign trade has seen impressive growth, with annual trade values increasing by 28.8% from 2006 to 2011. In the first half of 2012, the city’s trade reached a total of 129.5 million USD, marking a 27.1% increase compared to the previous year.

Menglian: A Historical Gateway

The location of the fair, Menglian County, is historically significant, once being part of the Tea-Salt Ancient Road (茶盐古道). This road connected the region with Myanmar and served as a key trade route. Menglian is just a river away from Myanmar’s Shan State, an important strategic and economic region in Southeast Asia. The area also offers direct access to other countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, reinforcing its role as a pivotal gateway for trade.

Overall, the Pu’er Border Trade Fair highlights Pu’er City’s unique position at the crossroads of China, Southeast Asia, and beyond, and underscores its growing importance as a trade and economic hub.