The forum of about 2,000 political leaders, entrepreneurs and academic scholars from across the world are expected to hold discussions under the theme of "Green recovery: Asia's realistic choice for sustainable growth" during the coming weekend.

The four-day South-Asia China Trade Fair 2010 kicked off in Nepali capital Kathmandu on Wednesday to promote quality products of South Asian countries and China.

The expo, the fourth of its kind, is organized by Nepal-China Executive Council and attended by businesspeople from seven countries.

The expo was inaugurated by Nepali Vice President Parmananda Jha amid the presence of envoys from China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

When addressing the opening ceremony, Vice President Jha said Nepal can be the trade center linking Asia's leading economy power China with other South Asian countries.

He said the expo will support Nepali commodities to be promoted in an international arena.

Similarly, envoys from participating countries sought for the regional trade cooperation. "Intra-regional as well as trans- regional trade cooperation is a must for the development of the region," said Syed Abrar Hussein, Pakistani ambassador to Nepal.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Qiu Guohong termed the expo as a great event which will enhance bilateral trade relation between South Asian countries and China.

"To strengthen the economic exchanges between China and South Asian countries, China will continue to host the third South Asian Countries Commodity Fair in June," Qiu added.

According to the organizers, the expo exhibits diversified products and they are confident of the outcome of the four-day event.

The organizers expect 60,000 visitors during the expo and around 100 companies are attending the fair with the Chinese delegation covering 30 stalls exhibiting various products, like power, machinery, automobile, electronics, chemicals and textile.

Foreign businesses in China are operating in an improving and maturing environment, with the government committed to its World Trade Organization (WTO) pledges, a former top trade negotiator has said.

"It's just not true to say that China is getting tougher with multinationals doing business in the country," Tong Zhiguang, who is also a former vice-minister of commerce, told China Daily on Monday.