(Qinzhou, China): China officially opened the Pinglu Canal to navigation on Wednesday (Sep. 16), creating a new river-sea gateway linking southwestern China with the Beibu Gulf and ASEAN markets.

Construction of the 134.2-kilometre canal began in August 2022, with an investment of about 72.7 billion yuan. It can accommodate vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes and is expected to shorten inland shipping routes by more than 560 kilometres compared with the previous route via Guangdong.

According to Chinese state media, the opening launched two freight routes: an international service between Nanning Port and Can Tho Port, Vietnam, and a domestic route linking Nanning with Yangpu Port in Hainan.

The canal is a key part of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, connecting western and southwestern China with ASEAN and global markets, and forms part of China's broader Belt and Road Initiative.

Three Cambodian journalists among ASEAN journalists visiting Guangxi on 16 September were scheduled to visit the Madao Water Conservancy Hub, the first of three navigation complexes on the canal.

The project features the world's largest water-saving inland ship lock currently under construction and is designed to save about 1.05 billion cubic metres of water annually once operational.
=FRESH NEWS