Pinglu Canal project to boost China-ASEAN trade

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- The Pinglu Canal in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is expected to boost and expand trade between China and ASEAN upon completion, especially in light of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) coming into force.

In a statement, Pinglu Canal Group Co Ltd said the canal would expedite the transport of goods between China and trade partners in ASEAN.

It said the 135-kilometre (km)-long canal costs over 72 billion renminbi (RMB100=RM65.23), and construction commenced in August this year.

“It is scheduled to be open for navigation in four years and is designed to handle 5,000-tonne ships.

“The canal begins from the county-level Hengzhou City of Nanning City, and enters Beibu Gulf via the Qinjiang River in Lingshan County of Qinzhou City,” it said.

Chen Hongqi, secretary of the CPC Committee of the Transportation Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said the southwestern and northwestern regions of China would be bolstered by the shortest, most economical and most convenient passage to the sea once the canal is completed.

“The inland river voyage of goods going from the southwestern region to the sea will be shortened by more than 560km compared with that through Guangzhou,” he said.

The Pinglu Canal Group added that the canal would also create tremendous economic opportunities for Guangxi.

“The project will profoundly change the industrial layout, economic and social development structure of Guangxi and propel the region to accelerate its transformation into a Beibu Gulf international gateway port and international hub seaport,” said CPC Committee of the Transportation Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region member Ouyang Bin.

-- BERNAMA