The 2019 China Kunming International Stone Expo opened in the city of Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province Wednesday.

Exhibitors from 24 countries and regions including Italy, Germany, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Afghanistan are participating in the six-day expo.

More than 2,800 booths and seven exhibition halls have been set up in a 65,000 square meter area.

Over 50 forums and lectures on jewelry, design, the gemstone industry and advanced technology will be held during the expo.

More than 600 jewelry designers are also participating in the jewelry culture and art week that opened Wednesday to discuss and share design and innovation ideas and experience.

Yunnan is among the first areas in China to develop and utilize gemstone resources. As of 2018, the output value of the stone industry in Yunnan has exceed 100 billion yuan (14.53 billion U.S. dollars), creating nearly 2 million jobs.