Guangxi is accelerating the construction of the Nanning Airport Economic Demonstration Zone and turning the Nanning Wuxi International Airport into a regional aviation hub, officials from the Development and Reform Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region said on Feb 5.

The National Development and Reform Commission and the Civil Aviation Administration of China gave approval for the establishment of the Nanning Airport Economic Demonstration Zone in July 2020.

The zone, which covers a planned area of 118 square kilometers, is striving to become a regional aviation hub for Southeast Asia. It will seek to facilitate the development of modern airport industries and strive to create a green and smart airport. 

Guangxi invested a total of 6.51 billion yuan ($1.01 billion) to support the zone's development in 2020 and more funds are expected to be invested this year. 

Officials added that the region will look at initiatives such as introducing leading companies in logistics such as China Post and SF Express, opening cargo airlines to destinations in Southeast Asia and major domestic cities, attracting airline companies including China Southern Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and Sichuan Airlines to set up bases at Nanning Wuxi International Airport, conducting more air routes between Nanning and ASEAN countries, as well as launching more new routes connecting domestic cities and ASEAN via Nanning. 

The international cargo throughput of Nanning Wuxi International Airport had increased by 1,000 metric tons to 10,002.8 tons for the first time by Dec 28, 2020, with a year-on-year increase of 280.5 percent.