China has remained ASEAN’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, while ASEAN has held the position as China’s top trading partner for the past six years. Guangxi, the only Chinese region linked to ASEAN by both land and sea, plays a strategic role in connecting the two markets.
According to local authorities, the Pinglu Canal, China’s first direct river-to-sea canal project, is expected to begin operations around the time of the China-ASEAN Expo in this September. Once operational, the canal will accommodate vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes.
The waterway will enable cargo from southwestern China to reach overseas markets directly via Qinzhou Port, instead of transiting through Guangdong province, cutting transport distances by about 560 km and reducing logistics costs by more than 5.2 billion RMB (roughly 753 million USD) each year.
Guangxi is also expanding port infrastructure, highways and cross-border railways while upgrading Nanning into an international and regional aviation and postal hub to strengthen its role as a gateway linking China with Southeast Asia.
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/guangxi-strengthens-asean-china-trade-connectivity-post338729.vnp