The 22nd ASEAN Chinese Entrepreneurs Conference was held in Kunming on June 16, with the theme “Gathering Overseas Chinese in Colorful Yunnan to Continue a Splendid New Chapter Together”. Nearly 300 leaders of overseas Chinese communities and Chinese business representatives from 45 countries and regions attended the event.
The conference unveiled ten major project cooperation outcomes, including the Xishuangbanna Resort Park, the Puzhehei Cultural Tourism and Wellness Complex, the durian full-chain cultivation and development project, the CP Pu’er Coffee project, and new energy vehicle exports. CP Group said it plans to establish an international trading company by leveraging Yunnan’s geographical advantages and the China-Laos Railway corridor to strengthen regional agricultural connectivity.
At the conference on exchange and cooperation among overseas Chinese communities, Yunnan promoted its investment environment by highlighting areas such as green power-driven development and its role as a regional hub. The province has China”s largest installed green power capacity and the lowest carbon emission factor for electricity, advantages that are attracting high-end manufacturing and intelligent computing industries. Baoshan promoted its Arabica coffee and hot spring resources, while Honghe Prefecture introduced cooperation opportunities in border-area opening-up, cross-border e-commerce, and new materials.
Three parallel events were held on the same day, including Cross-Border Negotiations under the Belt and Road Initiative, a Technology Project Roadshow, and an Overseas Chinese Youth Exchange. The Cross-Border Negotiations featured an open matchmaking session, during which several enterprises expressed preliminary interest in cooperation. The Technology Project Roadshow showcased 11 projects, including Intelligent Management and Control Systems, AI-based screening of traditional Chinese medicines, and the Utilization of Organic Waste. During the Overseas Chinese Youth Exchange, five cooperation agreements were signed, covering university–overseas Chinese cultural exchange, digital services, Yunnan–Hong Kong education cooperation, cross-border cultural tourism, and the development of a Southeast Asian marketplace platform.
From January to April 2026, Yunnan’s paid-in foreign investment increased by 17.7% year-on-year from January to April 2026, outpacing the national average. Since its inception in 2003, the ASEAN Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs Conference has attracted more than 9,000 overseas Chinese entrepreneurs. Since the “Connect Overseas Chinese Across Five Continents” initiative was launched in Yunnan in 2019, the conference has also facilitated investment in the province by a number of Fortune Global 500 companies.
