Guangxi eyes stronger marine economy, deepens ASEAN ties

South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is accelerating the high-quality development of its marine economy and leveraging major infrastructure projects to deepen international trade cooperation, particularly with Southeast Asian nations, officials said.

The region has witnessed robust growth in both its maritime sectors and overall foreign trade. During the first half of this year, Guangxi's marine gross product reached 137.7 billion yuan ($20.57 billion), marking a 6.8 percent year-on-year increase driven by advances in marine engineering equipment, offshore wind power and marine fisheries. This upward trajectory continued into the broader trade sector, with total foreign trade volume from January to August growing by 9.6 percent to 567.23 billion yuan.

Lin Zenan, deputy director of Guangxi's Development and Reform Commission, noted that the region is actively optimizing its industrial layout along coastal areas, transportation corridors and inland waterways to build a modernized marine industrial system.

Central to this economic transformation is the enhancement of maritime and inland connectivity. Beibu Gulf Port, a crucial international gateway, handled 312 million metric tons of cargo and 6.189 million twenty-foot equivalent units of containers in the first eight months of the year.

Furthermore, the economic belt surrounding the newly operational Pinglu Canal generated a regional GDP of 712.63 billion yuan in the first half of the year, up 3.7 percent year-on-year.

Lin emphasized that Guangxi is upgrading its infrastructure network, including railways and port facilities, to seamlessly integrate port operations with industrial and urban development, ultimately transforming port cities into highly livable and business-friendly hubs.

Guangxi's strategic location has solidified its role as a vital hub for trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which has maintained its position as Guangxi's largest trading partner for 26 consecutive years. From January to August, bilateral trade reached 284.69 billion yuan.

Wang Xinhong, deputy director of the China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone office, highlighted the region's success in creating a highly efficient supply chain for agricultural products. During the same period, Guangxi imported 30.45 billion yuan worth of fruits from ASEAN, accounting for more than one-third of the national total, with half of all durians imported into China passing through Guangxi ports.

Additionally, the region is securing cross-border industrial supply chains, with intermediate goods trade surging by 18.5 percent to reach 410.09 billion yuan, ensuring stable manufacturing operations across the border.

The China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone has played a pivotal role in driving institutional openness and attracting global capital. During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, the region utilized $7.36 billion in actual foreign investment. Wang pointed out that the free trade zone is pioneering cross-border innovations, including the establishment of an artificial intelligence development path tailored for ASEAN applications, supported by AI cooperation agreements signed with eight ASEAN member states.

The zone is also fostering a robust marine wind power industrial cluster. As the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 approaches implementation, local authorities are further streamlining cross-border data flows and expanding service trade in digital and cultural sectors.

Meanwhile, local authorities are committed to balancing economic expansion with rigorous ecological security. Lin said Guangxi is implementing comprehensive environmental protection measures for coastal wetlands and mangroves, and has successfully promoted its marine ecological restoration experience nationwide. By prioritizing both technological innovation and green development, the region aims to ensure that its pursuit of a strong marine economy remains highly sustainable.

Contact the writers at renqi@chinadaily.com.cn