The ninth plenary session of the 11th CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee opens on Dec 9 in Nanning. [Photo by Huang Ke/gxzf.gov.cn]

Guangxi will focus on opening-up and cooperation during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), devoting continuous efforts in better serving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Belt and Road Initiative, said Lu Xinshe, Party secretary of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, at the ninth plenary session of the 11th CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee on Dec 9.

Guangxi is expected to play a bigger role in expanding cooperation with ASEAN countries and pushing forward the high-quality construction of BRI, with the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), added Lu.

Lu emphasized that Guangxi should contribute to the joint construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, further synergize the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as beef up all-around opening-up and development.

In addition, Guangxi should carry out construction of high standards for the China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone, as well as optimize the establishment of platforms like the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the China-ASEAN Information Harbor to provide strong support for Guangxi's high-level opening-up.

Four initiatives, such as expanding capacity of the Beibu Gulf International Gateway Port, improving logistics efficiency, and promoting integrated development of industries, will be implemented to deepen connectivity in infrastructure construction between Guangxi and ASEAN countries, strengthen cooperation in international clearance, as well as establish associations for multimodal transport between China and ASEAN.

It has been noted in Guangxi's blueprint for its economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, as well as the long-range goal of achieving socialist modernization by 2035, that the region will strive to become an important node for the new dual circulation development paradigm, which has domestic circulation as the main driver, with domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other.

Lu added that efforts will be made in areas like pushing forward the construction of the China-ASEAN cross-border logistic system, building a one-stop service platform to boost overseas investment, deepening international industrial capacity cooperation, as well as accelerating construction of cross-border economic cooperation zones.