Beijing (VNA) – The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China plans to intensify trade connectivity with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations over the next five years by expanding logistics corridors and rolling out additional policy support, local authorities have said.
Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Wei Tao said Guangxi is building a high-standard connectivity corridor between China and ASEAN, offering shorter transit times, improved services and lower costs through an integrated network of road, sea, air and digital infrastructure.
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.
Wei said the canal will serve as a major international transport route between China and ASEAN, facilitating more efficient access for ASEAN economies to China’s domestic market.
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.
At present, the region operates two railway lines connecting directly to the China – Vietnam border. Bordering Vietnam, Guangxi serves as a key gateway to the broader ASEAN market.
Official data show that China – Vietnam freight trains departing from Guangxi reached a record in 2025, transporting 37,000 TEUs of export cargo, up 86% year-on-year, with goods sourced from 25 provincial-level regions across China.
Meanwhile, Nanning Wuxu International Airport now operates flights to all ASEAN member states, with international cargo and mail throughput reaching 81,600 tonnes last year.
In 2025, Guangxi’s trade turnover with ASEAN totalled 429.22 billion RMB, marking an 8% increase from 2024. The region currently operates 12 cross-border road transport routes linking Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and other ASEAN countries.
He added that Guangxi has established cooperation mechanisms spanning around 40 sectors, including artificial intelligence, industry, ports, finance, customs, agriculture and standardisation, in line with the rules of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to gradually expand institutional openness.
The region is also accelerating major projects such as border industrial parks and cross-border industrial and supply chains with ASEAN partners, particularly in chemicals and new energy materials, to deepen economic integration between China and Southeast Asia./.
