Business : Pinglu Canal Opens, Strengthening China-ASEAN Connectivity

The Pinglu Canal, a key component of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, officially opened to shipping today, forming a new water transport route that connects southwestern China with Asean and international markets. Spanning 134.2km from the Pingtang Estuary in Hengzhou, Nanning to the Beibu Gulf near Luwu Town in Qinzhou's Lingshan County, the canal marks a significant milestone in China's transportation infrastructure development.

Wei Minxin, the project engineer, emphasized that the canal's opening not only enhances transport connectivity but also fosters closer ties between China and Asean nations. The canal seamlessly integrates with the railway network and Beibu Gulf port network, creating a unified transportation system that encompasses waterways, railways, and maritime routes.

Designed to Class I inland waterway standards, the canal can accommodate vessels as large as 5,000 tonnes. As a primary water transport corridor, the project also integrates water supply, irrigation, flood prevention, and aquatic environmental improvement. With an estimated budget of 72.7 billion yuan, the Pinglu Canal promises to shorten the inland river transport distance for goods by over 560km, making it a more cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional routes.

This new route is anticipated to accelerate the transformation of regional resources into economic strengths and bolster cross-border and trans-regional industrial and supply chain development, connecting Asean with the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone, Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The canal is set to serve as a strategic hub for China's dual-circulation development strategy, contributing to the growth of Guangxi and the broader western region. Additionally, the canal will enable the Beibu Gulf Port to transition from a seaport to a multimodal transport hub, further expanding China's logistics connectivity with Asean countries.