A world photography and writing contest to highlight the role of Kunming-Bangkok express way was launched last Thursday in Kunming, Capital of China's southwestern Yunnan Province.

The International Photography & Writing Contest themed on “Friendship is longer than the road—Depicting Kunming-Bangkok expressway” is co-hosted by Yunnan Daily Press Group, Yunnan Provincial Photographers Association and Yunnan Provincial Writers Association, He Kan, editor-in-chief of Yunnan Daily Press Group, said in a press release.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Thai diplomatic ties, He Kan said, it is also the seventh year that Kunming-Bangkok Expressway was open to traffic. "This international expressway links Yunnan to the outside world, and it is significant in Yunnan’s opening-up and cooperation with the ASEAN countries.

Suchart Liengsaengthong, Consul-General of Royal Thai Consulate General in Kunming, attended the launching ceremony of the Contest, and said that the Contest is a concrete step of responding to Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jiping, and it will deepen understanding between the two peoples.

The contest aims to increase awareness of the development and changes made by the Kunming-Bangkok expressway, and draw more attention on it so that it can play an increasingly important role in the economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and Thailand, as well as in the construction of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.

The contest will last for three month and cash awards are up to 5000 RMB for the winners. The winning photographs and stories will be selected by a panel and the awarding ceremony will be held at the year end.