Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has made full use of its advantage of being a frontier for opening-up and cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), making remarkable achievements in promoting RMB trans-regional usage for ASEAN countries, Xinhua reported on Jan 18.

Statistics showed that Guangxi's cross-border RMB settlement in Guangxi volume during the first 11 months of 2019 amounted to 145.9 billion yuan ($21.27 billion), up 23.5 percent year-on-year, pioneering among the 12 provinces and autonomous regions in West China, as well as among the nine border provinces and autonomous regions in China.

The RMB cross-border payment and collection between Guangxi and ASEAN countries during the same time period reached 61.4 billion yuan, accounting for 42 percent of Guangxi's total amount.

A person in charge of the Nanning Central Sub-Branch of the People's Bank of China said that Guangxi's cross-border RMB business has maintained great momentum thanks to its unique geographic location and business innovation. 

ASEAN countries have been an important area and the largest market for the development of Guangxi's cross-border RMB business since the region started its pilot project for cross-border RMB settlement in 2010.

In addition, Guangxi has devoted efforts to achieving a more convenient trade and investment environment. The region has released an online information sharing platform for trade settlement at border ports, cutting the time of single settlement business from over one hour to one minute.

By the end of 2019, the platform has covered all service agencies managing border trade, involving 22.23 billion yuan and benefiting more than 95,000 users.

近年来广西充分发挥面向东盟开放合作前沿窗口的优势，推进人民币面向东盟跨区域使用取得显著成效。

数据显示，2019年1月至11月，广西跨境人民币结算量1459亿元，同比增长23.5%，在西部12个省（区）和全国9个边境省（区）中排名前列。其中，广西与东盟十国发生人民币跨境收付614亿元，占广西跨境人民币结算总量的42%。

中国人民银行南宁中心支行相关负责人表示，得益于广西独特的区位优势和业务创新，广西跨境人民币业务一直保持较好的发展势头。自2010年开展跨境人民币结算试点以来，东盟是广西跨境人民币业务发展的重点区域和最大市场，人民币也成为广西与东盟之间第一大跨境支付货币。

此外，广西推动跨境人民币业务创新，致力于实现更高水平的贸易投资便利化，上线运行边境口岸互市贸易结算互联互通信息平台，一笔结算业务由1个多小时缩短至1分钟。截至2019年12月31日，平台已实现互市贸易市场服务机构全覆盖，累计核验结算资金222.25亿元，便利边民9.5万多人。

Source: www.gx.xinhuanet.com