China utilizes Nanning for trade with ASEAN<\/p>\n
The following is the first article in the second series on the
\nSecond China-ASEAN Expo held from Oct. 19 to Oct. 22 in Nanning
\nin the southwestern autonomous region of Guangxi, China. The
\nJakarta Post's Harry Bhaskara attended the expo at the invitation
\nof the expo secretariat.<\/p>\n
A whole city has sprung to life as a result of deepening trade
\nrelations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN).<\/p>\n
"When I came here four years ago for a visit, there was
\nnothing but fields," said an American who has lived in Nanning
\nfor the last two years.<\/p>\n
"Now you can see for yourself," he said indicating the city's
\nubiquitous skyscrapers.<\/p>\n
Nanning is the capital of the autonomous region of Guangxi in
\nsouthwest China. It is a medium-size city of about 200 square
\nkilometers, or about one-third the size of Jakarta, but it is on
\nits way to becoming a much bigger city in the years to come.<\/p>\n
Not only foreigners are taken aback by the rate of development
\nin the city. "If you leave the city for two or three months, you
\nwill find a different city by the time you are back," says Li
\nHui, a Nanning native.<\/p>\n
As the capital city of Guangxi, Nanning mirrors the phenomenal
\ndevelopment in the whole region as statistics show.<\/p>\n
The municipal authorities of Nanning will pour 1.51 billion
\nyuan (US$186.1 million) in investment into urban projects this
\nyear, according to China Daily.<\/p>\n
For the revamping and improvement of the 100 hotels in
\nNanning, the city has earmarked special funds of 30 million yuan.
\nAnother 25 hotels have been under construction this year, 18 of
\nwhich have recently begun trial operations.<\/p>\n
Nanning has also completed the construction of the second
\nphase of the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition
\nCenter, which covers an area of about 40,000 square meters and
\nallows for an extra 1,260 exhibition booths in six newly added
\nexhibitions halls. At present there are 16 exhibition halls.<\/p>\n
Nanning authorities expect the expo to yield contractual
\ncapital input of over 12 billion yuan and trade deals worth over
\n12 billion yuan. The city will propose 125 projects for potential
\ninvestors during the events. The projects will involve
\ninvestments of 13.6 billion yuan.<\/p>\n
Investment in upgrading the transportation network in the
\nwhole region of Guanxi last year reached a record 13 billion
\nyuan, up 46.5 percent from 2003. More than 11 billion was
\nearmarked for highway development last year.<\/p>\n
Today, the region boasts 60,000 kilometers of highways of
\nwhich expressways account for 11,000 kilometers.<\/p>\n
Guangxi will invest more than 12 billion yuan this year to
\nbuild another 1,500 kilometers of highways. The region has
\nalready direct airlinks with Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou,
\nShenzhen and Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
Permanent direct flights to major ASEAN cities are being
\nworked out to replace the current temporary direct charter
\nflights between Guangxi and ASEAN cities. Guangxi has three
\ninternational airports, namely Nanning, Guilin and Beihai,
\nservicing more than 100 domestic and international flights.<\/p>\n
In port development, Guangxi has already more than 20 berths
\nwith a total handling capacity of 30 million tons. Its present
\nhandling capacity of inner river ports totals more than 30
\nmillion tons. Deep-water sea routes are being planned.<\/p>\n
By the end of 2010 when the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement
\n(CAFTA) is completed, Guangxi is expected to have a total of 61
\nberths with a handling capacity of 10,000 tons each.<\/p>\n
Guangxi has built a railway network linking major cities in
\nSouthwest China and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
At least 40 billion yuan is earmarked for the Guangxi section
\nof the Luoyang-Zhangjiang Railway that will be completed in 2008.<\/p>\n
The only region of Southwest China sharing both land and sea
\nborders with ASEAN countries, Guangxi's gross domestic product
\n(GDP) stood at 161.2 billion yuan in the first half of the year,
\nor an increase of 12.3 percent over the same period of last year.
\nIts economic growth has averaged 9.6 percent annually, according
\nto China Daily. This is slightly higher than the national 9.5
\npercent economic growth in the first half of this year.<\/p>\n
Industry in the region with a population of 48 million people
\nhas contributed 52 percent of the total growth. The main
\nindustries include sugar refining, non-ferrous metal refining,
\nmetallurgy, electric power, automobiles, machinery, construction
\nmaterials and food.<\/p>\n
With a total capacity topping 10 million kilowatts, Guangxi is
\nwell on the way to becoming a major hydro-project that will
\neventually feed power to the eastern regions. With the ongoing
\ndevelopment, it is expected to top the production of 25.60
\nmillion kilowatts by 2010.<\/p>\n
Guangxi is also home to household names in the auto industry
\nlike FAW, Dongfeng Motor, General Motors, Daewoo and Renault,
\nwith an output of 15 billion yuan for the first eight months of
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
With a projection of capacity production of 500,000 vehicles
\nthis year, Guangxi looks set to become a major auto industrial
\nbase in China.<\/p>\n
Apart from the auto industry, Guangxi is also rich in mineral
\nresources, like aluminum. It also has a well-integrated forestry,
\npulp and paper industry.<\/p>\n
Guangxi enjoys a unique climate that is suited to plantation,
\nanimal husbandry and fishery. In its service industry, including
\ntourism, Guangxi has seen an average growth of 11 percent
\nannually.<\/p>",
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