The first Myanmar (Lashio)-China (Lincang) border economic and trade fair opened in Myanmar's northern city of Lashio on Thursday.

The purpose of holding the border trade fair is to further enhance bilateral trade, expand investment and promote closer relationship between entrepreneurs of the two countries, said Myanmar Commerce Minister U Than Myint at the opening ceremony.

Chinese Embassy Minister Counsellor Li Xiaoyan said the two countries' economies are highly complementary and the two sides have broad cooperation prospect in agriculture, tourism, production capacity, infrastructure and industrial park. She believed that the border fair will provide more opportunities for bilateral business cooperation and friendly exchanges between border inhabitants as well as for jointly building the Belt and Road and China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.

Chinese Consul General in Mandalay Wang Zongying said Lashio is an important portal of northern Myanmar, a political, economic and transportation hub in northern Shan state as well as an important commodity distributing center in northern part of the country, only more than 100 km from the Sino-Myanmar border.

The trade fair will serve as a platform for expanding friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between merchants and peoples of the two countries, he added.

A total of 32 enterprises from Myanmar participated in the border trade fair with about 60 booths. The exhibits mainly included local specialties, tea, coffee, wood products and tourist products.

A total of 48 Chinese enterprises participated in the exhibition, using about 80 booths. The exhibits mainly included food, new energy appliances, clothing and building materials.

During the border trade fair, forums for entrepreneurs of the two countries will be held and relevant cooperation agreements will be signed.