Guangxi's high-quality opening-up bears fruit in past decade

A press conference detailing Guangxi's achievements over the past decade is held on July 22. [Photo by Huang Ke/gxzf.gov.cn]

Guangxi has achieved historic achievements by implementing all-round opening-up policies, said Guangxi officials during a press conference held on July 22.

The press conference focused on the remarkable changes that have taken place in Guangxi regarding its economic and social development in the past decade. In addition, officials discussed its plans to facilitate the region's future prosperity.

The region has made full use of its location advantages to deepen cooperation with ASEAN countries and accelerate coordinated development with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area since the 18th CPC National Congress was held 10 years ago.

Bordering Vietnam, Guangxi is the frontier and window of China's opening-up and cooperation with ASEAN countries.

The implementation of the RCEP this year has bought Guangxi a critical development opportunity, with the Guangxi government carrying out high-quality RCEP-related policies and innovative measures to boost foreign trade, aiming to strengthen its relationship with ASEAN countries like Vietnam, Myanmar, as well as Laos.

Over the past decade, Guangxi's foreign trade volume with ASEAN countries has seen an annual growth rate of 15.8 percent, increasing from 74.75 billion yuan ($11.06 million) in 2012 to 282.12 billion yuan in 2021. 

ASEAN has been the largest trade partner of Guangxi for 22 consecutive years. Guangxi's imports and exports in border trade have ranked first in China for seven consecutive years, and its processing trade volume last year exceeded 100 billion yuan.

The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor has been a key project for Guangxi to drive integration into the new development pattern, with the region actively improving the cooperation system along the corridor and setting up four action plans, including ones to increase the corridor's transportation capacity and to pay special attention to the Beibu Gulf Port with expanded services.

Guangxi's land-sea freight trains operating along the corridor have increased from 178 in 2017 to 6,117 in 2021, covering 54 cities in 14 provinces, as well as 319 ports in 107 countries and regions. The corridor has become a new land-sea gateway connecting China and ASEAN with the shortest transportation time, the best services, as well as the most affordable prices.     

As a key project of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, the 135-kilometer-long Pinglu Canal is expected to be constructed this year. Once completed, goods will be transported to the sea from the Beibu Gulf port via the canal, which is 560 km shorter than from Guangzhou Port in Guangdong province.