China positions Guangxi as Southeast Asia’s primary gateway
Guanxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, bordering Vietnam, is being positioned by China as the primary gateway for businesses and tourists from the ASEAN region. Its southern China location and connectivity to Vietnam through land, sea, and air routes make it a strategic point for Southeast Asia.
The region is equipped with three international airports and three deep-sea ports which collectively host over 30 international cargo and passenger services.
According to Dong Changting, deputy director of External Publicity and Exchange Department of Guangxi Zhuang Automomous Region, they hope that these facilities will draw more Southeast Asian businesses and tourists.
Guangxi is also a hub for educational institutions offering Thai language courses to Chinese learners, which is a growing trend among Chinese students planning to travel to Thailand. Likewise, Thais are coming to Guangxi to learn Chinese. This language exchange facilitates China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), bolstering the nation’s soft power capacity.
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, highlighted Guangxi’s advantageous location and proximity to Southeast Asia as an ideal gateway for Thai agricultural exports to China. Its efficient handling of land and marine cargo shipments ensures Thai products reach the markets swiftly.
Guangxi, previously known for its natural attractions like Guilin and its stunning limestone karst formations, is now transforming into a modern trade hub. Ma Tieqiao, chairman of Guilin Junda Transportation Company, spoke about the development of the Guilin Sightseeing Shipping Co in 1985 to cater to the increasing number of tourists. Today, numerous leisure boats cruise along the Li Jiang River daily.
Guilin is also emerging as a high-tech industry hub. The establishment of the Guilin High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in 1988 marked the beginning of this transformation. One of the successful companies based in the region is Guangxi Guilin Zhishen Information Technology Company, which produces anti-shake tripods for cameras and other digital photography equipment.
In addition to this, Guigang, situated in eastern Guangxi, has been chosen as a hub for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers. A representative of Guangxi Luyuan Electric Vehicle Company stated that having an EV production base in Guigang will provide China with increased opportunities to export its EVs to Southeast Asian countries.
