A press conference on the economic and social development of Baise to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China is held in Nanning on July 4. [Photo by Yang Zhixiong/gx.chinanews.com]

The city of Baise in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region held a press conference on July 4 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, as well as to introduce its economic and social development over the past 70 years.

Baise is located in western Guangxi and at the junction of Yunnan province, Guizhou province, and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Baise is bordered by Vietnam, with a border line of 359.5 kilometers. The city has two national border crossings in Longbang and Pingmeng, as well as seven border trade points (districts) determined by Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. The city is an important land channel connecting western Guangxi, eastern Yunnan, and southern Guizhou with Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

According to Zhou Yijue, mayor of Baise, the city has achieved remarkable results after reform and opening up. Baise has established the China-Vietnam Cross-border Economic Cooperation Zone, as well as the Baise-Wenshan and Baise-Qianxi'nan Economic Cooperation Park. It has also built the Longbang Inter-city Trade Zone, which features comprehensive facilities and an advanced customs clearance service system. In addition, the city has launched China-European express trains and China-Vietnam container trains.

Since the establishment of the city, Baise has invested more than 5 billion yuan ($726.11 million) to build port infrastructure. Longbang Port has been upgraded to an international port. It has become the designated port for national food imports and the designated supervision site for imported fruits.

According to Zhou, the total foreign trade volume of Baise from 2016 to 2018 has increased by 36.4 percent, 35.4 percent, and 16.4 percent respectively, with the growth rate remaining at the forefront of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

In the future, Baise will actively promote international capacity cooperation, strengthen economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN countries, promote the development of distinctive industries to participate in international development, build cross-border industrial cooperation parks, build international scientific and technological cooperation bases, as well as promote cross-border tourism and cross-border labor cooperation.

Zhou Yijue, mayor of Baise, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, speaks at the press conference. [Photo by Yang Zhixiong/gx.chinanews.com]