Baise deepens trade, investment cooperation with ASEAN

The Baise pilot zone for advancing China's economic opening-up in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region achieved leapfrog development as its total foreign trade volume in 2021 expanded by 28 percent year-on-year to 42.63 billion yuan ($6.68 billion).

Eleven Baise companies now have invested in four ASEAN countries including Vietnam and Cambodia and the total foreign trade volume between Baise and ASEAN countries last year was 38.2 billion yuan.

Baise is located in Southwest China and shares a boundary line of 359.5 kilometers with Vietnam. It has two national checkpoints and seven border trade areas. The Baise pilot zone was set up in March 2020 with the approval from the State Council to become an important platform for the joint high-quality construction of the Belt and Road between China and ASEAN countries.

Huang Jin, deputy head of the Baise commerce bureau, noted that the city is promoting the construction of a host of port projects such as the travel inspection channels at Longbang Checkpoint and the renovation and expansion of Pingmeng Checkpoint. Currently, Longbang Checkpoint has been approved to become the designated site for importing Thai fruit to China.

Efforts have also been made by Baise to promote deep industrial opening-up and cooperation with ASEAN in sectors spanning agriculture and rehabilitation.