The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is building ports, railways and roads to expand its trade with Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations. Over the next two years, CNY150 billion will be invested in infrastructure in the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone, a region in Guangxi that includes the three ports of Fangchenggang, Beihai and Qinzhou, as well as the region’s capital, Nanning. The biggest investor in Fangchenggang is Hong Kong. The port’s cargo capacity will increase from 60 million tons at the end of this year to 100 million tons by 2015, said Fangchenggang Port General Manager Xie Yi. Chongzuo, a few hours drive from the Sino-Vietnamese border, is connected by road and rail to the Friendship Pass on the border with Vietnam. During the first half of the year, Chongzuo’s international trade soared 68.53% to USD1.5 billion.

“We plan to expand Nanning airport and add flights to Europe to make Nanning an international hub,” Nanning Vice Mayor Xiao Zhigang said. An additional CNY6 billion will be invested in the airport. A similar amount will be invested in the construction of the 160,000 square meter Nanning East railway station. In 2009, Nanning’s investment in fixed assets rose 50.5% to CNY104.4 billion, while its industrial output rose by 12.1% to CNY117.6 billion. Guangxi’s trade with Asean has risen almost fivefold from USD1 billion in 2004 to USD4.95 billion in 2009. The region’s fixed asset investment rose 50.8% to CNY570.7 billion in 2009, with 646.68 kilometers of railway and 213 km of expressways built. Qinzhou is another port on the south coast of Guangxi undergoing rapid expansion. In the first half, container throughput  rose 140% to 109,000 TEU, while its cargo throughput rose by 56.1%  to 14.16 million tons. Cargo capacity will be raised to 100 million tons by 2011. Hong Kong accounts for most of Qinzhou port’s cargo, while Asean is second with a 40% share.