Baise Development and Opening-up Pilot Zone approved for establishment

The city of Baise, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo by Li Xin/Xinhua]

The Guangxi Baise Key Development and Opening-up Pilot Zone was approved to be established into an important platform for China and ASEAN to jointly construct the Belt and Road, announced by the State Council on April 7.

Located in the west of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and bordering Vietnam, the pilot zone is an important frontier for China-ASEAN cooperation. The construction of the pilot zone will strengthen cooperation with ASEAN countries in politics, economics, culture, science, and technology. It will also accelerate the construction of the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor, form a new economic growth pole, as well as speed up the construction of urban and rural areas in the border areas.

The implementation plan for the construction of the pilot zone will be issued by the National Development and Reform Commission. It will make full use of the unique advantages of the pilot zone in cooperation with ASEAN countries, especially Vietnam, to promote institutional innovation, improve the level of infrastructure interconnection, strengthen in-depth industrial cooperation, as well as promote the prosperity and development of border areas.

The Guangxi government will be responsible for the overall planning, spatial layout, ecological environment protection, and resource utilization of the pilot area. Relevant departments of the State Council will give active guidance and preference in terms of planning, policy formulation, capital investment, and project arrangements. The National Development and Reform Commission will carry out follow-up analysis, supervision and inspection, as well as periodic assessments.

"Baise is one of the prefecture-level cities with the largest populations along the border, a better industrial system, and stronger economic strength. The establishment of the pilot zone is a great measure for China to further promote the opening up of the western border," said Xiong Hongming, vice president of Guangxi Full Rich Investment Co, a company investing in the construction and operation of port economic zones in Baise.

It will usher in great development opportunities for the company, Xiong added.