"The Belt and Road will provide a better way to ship goods from China to Nepal and Nepal to China," Chaudhary says. "That will make for very good cultural interactions."

The concept that the BRI isn't just about the trading of physical goods but also the exchange of people and ideas is a primary theme of the expo. So is the idea that this is a reimagining of the Silk Road's heritage.

The booth belonging to Thailand, the guest of honor country, didn't even offer items for sale, but instead engaged in a free flow of traditional concepts through displays about lesser-known dimensions of the country best-known for its beaches and cuisine. They included exhibits about khon masked dramas, the Songkran New Year festival, nuad Thai massage, and nora dance.

Thai Culture Ministry Permanent Secretary Prasop Riangngoen points out that Buddhism, which continues to shape his country's customs, traveled along the ancient Silk Road to eventually reach Southeast Asia.