by Xinhua writers Liu Hongxia, Zhang Yuyang

 

Kazakh businessman Kanat Bektembayev had quite a busy week in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where a major international expo has just concluded with fruitful results.

 

During the seventh China-Eurasia Expo, which concluded Thursday, Bektembayev and his wife Gulshara had to juggle online orders as well as receive new customers.

 

The couple has been engaging in business between Kazakhstan and China since 2014, mainly trading in food and beverages, and settled down in Urumqi in late 2019.

 

"This isn't the first time we've participated in the expo. We signed up immediately on hearing that it would be held again," said Bektembayev. "We are even more excited that Kazakhstan is the guest of honor this year."

 

Kazakhstan's exhibition area was furnished in a distinct Kazakh style, with walls and banners painted in light blue and yellow, the colors of the country's national flag. Measuring 180 square meters, the area showcased flour, juice, liquor, chocolate and other Kazakh specialties produced by 22 well-known enterprises.

 

"I knew that there would be more and better opportunities here," Bektembayev said.

 

The expo gathered 864 enterprises from home and abroad at its offline events, with 3,597 companies from 32 countries and regions participating online, showcasing about 17,000 exhibits in total.

 

While foreign businesspeople were seeking cooperation in China, domestic merchants were also kept busy.

 

Yang Biguang, a manager with Shenzhen Dapeng Laser Technology Co., Ltd., showcased such technologies as laser welding, cutting and printing to visitors.

 

"Our company enjoys broad market prospects in countries along the Belt and Road, especially the Central Asian countries. We've come to expand our Central Asian market," he said, adding that the company was also mulling investments in Xinjiang.

 

"We want to get closer to our potential market," he said.

 

Sun Hongmei, vice chairperson of the Xinjiang regional government, told a press briefing that the expo's online platform will continue to provide free services for registered businesses to hold investment and promotion activities for a year.

 

"Doing business in China gives us more opportunities," said Bektembayev, adding that he and his wife plan to continue developing their business in China.