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Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region eyes Asian links
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-11 16:19
The Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region continues to expand its opening-up and international cooperation to accelerate development of the Beibu Bay economic zone designed to benefit both East and Southeast Asia. The region is currently engaged in development of seven programs that include: ASEAN & China: 10 + 1 China and ASEAN started to hold regular dialog in 1991. By 2003 the nations established a long-term strategic partnership that includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The "1" stands for China. China and ASEAN have now formulated 28 programs including meetings of state leaders, expos, business and investment summits. Since 2004 Nanning has been selected as the permanent venue for the China-ASEAN Expo where the nations would gather every October and November. Priorities have been given to agriculture, information, telecommunications, human resources, investment and Mekong River development. Pan-Beibu Bay As part of the 10+1 cooperation, nations along the bay bay have worked together on infrastructure, port logistics, trade and investment, tourism and resource development. A forum on economic cooperation along the bay is held regularly once a year. Great Mekong Subregion Launched in 1992, the program draws Yunnan and Guangxi of China together with Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. National leaders, ministers and other officials are meeting once every three years, with three sessions held to date. Ties with Vietnam Starting in 2004, Guangxi and three provinces of China joined 10 provinces and cities of Vietnam in two corridors linking Nanning and Kunming with Hanoi and other cities of Vietnam. An economic circle rings cities on Beibu Bay. Irregular meetings have been held on infrastructure, tourism, mineral resources, manufacturing and agriculture. Corridor to Singapore Beginning with plans formulated in 2006, the corridor will link highways and railways to Hanoi, Phnom Pen, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpar and Singapore. 9+2 Pan-Pearl River The zone groups nine areas on the mainland plus Hong Kong and Macao. The nine are Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan provinces and Guangxi. An 11-member development forum meets every year. Four have been held do date. Southwest China The cooperation of five southwestern provinces and Guangxi dates to 1984 and now focuses on transport, logistics, tourism and energy. There have been 21 sessions of their coordinating meetings. Guangxi and Taiwan Guangxi has been cooperating with Taiwan since 2005 in agriculture, tourism, sugar making and aluminum development. The two sides have held four market forums and three exchange sessions. Moreover, the region also invites such world organizations as Untied Nations agencies and those from the European Union to take part in their economic and trade efforts. |
