Guangxi Steps Up Efforts to Enhance Trade with ASEAN Nations

The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China is poised to significantly enhance trade exchanges with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over the next five years. This ambitious plan, announced by a senior official, focuses on expanding logistics channels and implementing supportive policies to elevate trade between the two regions.

Wei Tao, chairman of Guangxi and deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, highlighted the region's strategic role in fostering closer ties with ASEAN. He emphasized the establishment of a world-class channel that connects China with ASEAN, which aims to provide optimal travel times, superior services, and minimal costs through a comprehensive network of land, sea, air, and digital connections.

China has maintained its status as ASEAN's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, while ASEAN has held the title of China's top trading partner for the past six years. Guangxi's unique geographical positioning allows it to serve as a vital bridge for trade between China and ASEAN member states by both land and sea.

Key to this initiative is the opening of the Pinglu Canal, which is recognized as the first direct river-to-sea canal project in the country. Scheduled for traffic commencement during the China-ASEAN Expo in September, this canal is set to be a crucial international link between China and ASEAN. Wei anticipates that it will facilitate the shortest distances, the lowest logistical costs, and provide unparalleled convenience for ASEAN members to access China's inland market efficiently.

Spanning 134.2 kilometers, the Pinglu Canal links the Pingtang River estuary in Nanning, the regional capital, to the Beibu Gulf in the South China Sea. Upon completion, it is expected to accommodate vessels weighing up to 5,000 metric tons, allowing goods from southwestern China to reach foreign markets through the Qinzhou Port. This shift is projected to reduce transport distances by approximately 560 kilometers, effectively saving over 5.2 billion yuan (around $753 million) in logistics annually.

In line with this strategy, Guangxi is also investing in the construction of cross-border railways, highways, and ports, while upgrading Nanning into an international hub for aviation and postal services. The region is currently supported by two railway lines leading directly to the China-Vietnam border, underscoring its importance as a gateway to other ASEAN member states.

Highlighting Guangxi's cultural and historical ties with ASEAN countries, Wei remarked,