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Speakers:

Mr. Lan Tianli, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee and chairman of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region

Mr. Xu Yongke, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee and executive vice chairman of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region

Mr. Bai Songtao, director of the Development and Reform Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Mr. Wang Yongchao, director of the Commission for Industry and Information Technology of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Chairperson:

Ms. Xing Huina, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

June 12, 2024

Xing Huina:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). This is the 29th press conference in the series "Promoting High-Quality Development." Today, we have invited Mr. Lan Tianli, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee and chairman of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, to introduce Guangxi's accelerating efforts to build itself into a convenient hub for domestic and international businesses, and to build a splendid Guangxi in the new era, and take your questions. Also present today are Mr. Xu Yongke, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee and executive vice chairman of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region; Mr. Bai Songtao, director of the Development and Reform Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; and Mr. Wang Yongchao, director of the Commission for Industry and Information Technology of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Lan for his introduction.

Lan Tianli:

Good morning. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak to you all on the high-quality development of Guangxi. Entrusted by Liu Ning, secretary of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and highest respect to all of you on behalf of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee, the government, and the region's more than 57 million people of all ethnic groups for your long-term care and support for Guangxi.

Those who visit Guangxi are always amazed by its wonderful beauty. Guangxi is indeed a thoroughly charming place. Here, I would like to introduce Guangxi to you using six key phrases. The first phrase is "picturesque landscapes." The Lijiang River is one of the world's 15 most beautiful rivers, and Detian Waterfall is the largest transnational waterfall in Asia. Wang Zhenggong, a poet in the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279), wrote the timeless line, "Guilin's scenery is the best under Heaven." Today, we can add another phrase: "Everywhere in Guangxi is like Guilin." It is a place of "poetry and distance" that people yearn for. The second phrase is "livability and longevity." Guangxi boasts beautiful ecology and long-living residents, being home to nearly 7,000 centenarians. Out of the 99 "longevity towns" in China, 37 are in Guangxi. The third phrase is "sweet business." Guangxi has been the nation's top sugar producer for 33 consecutive years, with two out of every three spoonfuls of sugar in China coming from Guangxi. Guangxi has also ranked No. 1 for fruit production in the nation for six consecutive years. Our mangoes, lychees, longans, kumquats, tangerines, passion fruits, dragon fruits, and Shatian pomelos are renowned nationwide. Guangxi serves as the "sugar bowl" and "fruit platter" of the nation. The fourth phrase is "national unity." Guangxi is the autonomous region with the largest population of ethnic minorities in China, where the sense of community for the Chinese nation is deeply ingrained in all ethnic groups. General Secretary Xi Jinping praised Guangxi as a national model area for ethnic unity and progress. The fifth phrase is "close to ASEAN." "Open the door and you are in Vietnam; take a few steps and you will enter ASEAN." Guangxi is the only province in China that is connected to ASEAN by both land and sea, making it the forefront and window of China's opening-up and cooperation with ASEAN. The sixth phrase is "prosperous canal." The Pinglu Canal, currently under construction in Guangxi, is the first river-to-sea canal project since the founding of the People's Republic of China and a flagship project on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. Once completed, logistics between southwest and south-central China, the western regions, and ASEAN will become more convenient.

General Secretary Xi Jinping cares deeply about Guangxi's development and is concerned about the people of all ethnic groups in Guangxi. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the general secretary has visited Guangxi three times, delivering many important speeches and issuing important instructions on Guangxi's work. He encouraged us to "free our minds, pursue innovations for change, seek ocean-oriented development opportunities, and promote open development," which has laid out a grand blueprint and injected strong momentum for "making concerted efforts to build a splendid Guangxi in the new era and striving to write a chapter of Chinese modernization in Guangxi."

Guided by the instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, we are determined to blaze new paths and make greater achievements in promoting high-quality development in border areas with mainly ethnic minority populations. The GDP increased from 1.13 trillion yuan in 2012 to 2.72 trillion yuan in 2023. We are committed to achieving excellence in developing strong industries. Focusing on industries with unique advantages as well as adapting to local conditions in order to develop new quality productive forces, Guangxi has cultivated ten industrial sectors and six specialty agricultural sectors, each with an annual output value of the whole industrial chain exceeding 100 billion yuan (about 14 billion U.S. dollars). This includes the metallurgical industry, automobiles, sugar and fruit. The number of industrial enterprises above designated size has exceeded 10,000 while the foundation for high-quality development has been continuously consolidated. We have continued to open wider to the outside world. For the last 20 years, we have hosted the China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit. ASEAN has been Guangxi's largest trading partner for 24 consecutive years. The position and role of Guangxi in the overall structure of national opening up have both become increasingly prominent. We have made every effort to build a major ecological barrier in the southern region of the country. Upholding the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, we are dedicated to improving the protection of mountains and rivers of Guangxi. Guangxi's ecological environment has continued to improve, ranking in the forefront of the country. The province's mangrove forest ranks second in the country while the richness of our biodiversity ranks third in the country. New progress has been made in green development. We have continued to improve people's well-being. About 80% of the fiscal expenditure is used to improve people's livelihoods and projects are implemented every year to address people's practical concerns. We have continued to consolidate and expand the achievements in poverty-alleviation and have taken solid steps in promoting all-around rural revitalization, so that the lives of people in Guangxi have become more prosperous.

On this new journey, we will take high-quality development as the top priority, strive to promote the construction of "one zone, two areas, one park and one corridor" and make great efforts to write a Guangxi chapter of Chinese Modernization. "One zone" refers to building a demonstration zone for forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. We must continue to take a pioneering role in promoting ethnic unity and progress by playing an exemplary role. One of the "two areas" refers to building a convenient place for business operation and the dual circulation of both domestic and international markets. Leveraging the unique geographical advantage of a gateway to ASEAN countries, as well as constructive interactions with the east, central and west regions, we have continued to improve the level of facilitation in investment, trade and other aspects. The other of the "two areas" refers to building an important strategic hinterland for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. We fully integrate into the innovative, industrial, supply, capital and talent chains of the Greater Bay Area. "One park" refers to building an industrial park along border and port areas. We are systematically undertaking industrial transfer, accelerating the establishment of secure and stable cross-border and cross-regional industrial and supply chains. "One corridor" refers to jointly building the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor at a high standard. We have constructed the Pinglu Canal with high standards and high quality, accelerated the construction of the railway from Huangtong to Baise, built the international gateway port of Beibu Gulfand havesped up the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, connecting ASEAN countries with the shortest time, the best service and the best price.

That's all for my introduction. My colleagues and I will now answer questions from journalists. Thank you.

Xing Huina:

You are now welcome to raise questions. Please identify the news organization you represent before asking your questions.

China Daily:

Just now, Mr. Lan mentioned that Guangxi has been continuously expanding opening up to the outside world and speeding up the building of a convenient place for business operation and the dual circulation of domestic and international markets. Could you elaborate on how this "convenient place" works? What are the specific measures? Thank you.

Lan Tianli:

Thank you for your questions. We understand that the country has entrusted Guangxi with the important mission of building a convenient place for business operation and the dual circulation of domestic and international markets, hoping that it can leverage its unique geographical advantages to better serve and integrate into the new development pattern while also promoting high-quality development through high-level opening up. The construction of this "convenient place" means vigorously improving the level of convenience in investment, trade, consumption, capital flow, personnel exchange, logistics and transportation. To this end, we will make efforts in the following aspects:

We will build a three-dimensional and efficient connectivity system. On the basis of connecting counties with expressways and cities with high-speed rail, we have built 36 highways that connect to other provinces, the sea and border areas. High-speed trains can reach 20 other provinces in the same day. The port of Beibu Gulf is connected to over 200 ports in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide. The aviation network reaches all ASEAN countries. We have basically formed a modern three-dimensional transportation structure integrating rivers and seas, combined transportation of sea and rail, coordinated development of water and land routes, and seamlessly connected air and ports, achieving fast and convenient access to the river and sea in the western region. Currently, we are accelerating the China-Vietnam smart port program. After the completion of the smart port, 24-hour uninterrupted, unmanned and intelligent customs clearance for goods will be realized. Goods from Nanning to Hanoi in Vietnam will be delivered within 24 hours, and goods to the four northern border provinces of Vietnam will be delivered within 12 hours.

We will build cross-border and cross-regional industrial and supply chains. We will build industrial parks along border and port areas and China-ASEAN industrial cooperation zone, as well as accelerate the development of cross-border and cross-regional industrial and supply chains within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area-Beibu Gulf economy zone and ASEAN. For example, Qinzhou has formed a petrochemical industry led by China National Petroleum Corporation and Guangxi Huayi New Material Co., LTD, and has initially established cross-border industrial chain cooperation with many ASEAN countries in the fields of chemical industry and new energy materials.

We will steadily expand institutional opening-up. Over the past years, we have established China-ASEAN mechanisms covering more than 40 areas including transportation and trade through the China-ASEAN Expo platform, and the Guangxi Pilot Free Trade Zone has explored 169 institutional innovations and promoted those practices across the country. We will comprehensively align with trade and economic rules under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), steadily expanding institutional openness in rules, regulations, management and standards to attract the aggregation of various factors, such as talents, capital, information, technology and others.

We will continue to improve the business environment. Guangxi has basically achieved the goal of "at the most having to visit one time" for government services. Starting a business requires only two steps and can be completed in just one day. A survey of the business environment among 10,000 private enterprises in 2023 conducted by All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce shows that Guangxi ranks among the top five provinces with the most significant improvement in the business environment. We will continue to optimize government services, production factors, law-based governance, the market and the environment for innovation, deepen the "Business-Friendly Guangxi" initiative, further reduce costs associated with production factors, logistics and institutional transactions as well as strive to create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized.

Thank you.

Cover News:

As mentioned earlier, the Pinglu Canal is under construction and serves as the backbone project of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. What progress has been made with the construction of the project currently and how will Guangxi ensure the successful construction of this canal? Thank you.

Lan Tianli:

I would like to invite Mr. Xu to answer it.

Xu Yongke:

Thank you for your questions. As Mr. Lan introduced earlier, the Pinglu Canal, with a total investment of approximately 72.7 billion yuan, will be primarily completed by the end of 2026 and is expected to handle ships of up to 5,000 metric tons. Currently, more than half of the earthworks have been excavated, with nearly half of the investment utilized. Construction is progressing smoothly in all aspects. For this canal, I would like to introduce it in three sentences: First, "a river of spring water flows southward." Guangxi boasts a well-developed water system with approximately 80% of its water flowing into the Xijiang River before surging eastward into the sea. The Pinglu Canal, cutting through mountains and heading southward to the sea, will fundamentally change the current situation in Guangxi, where coastal areas lack direct river access to the sea. Second, "light boats easily pass through myriad mountains." In the southwestern region of China, where mountains are densely packed, transportation and logistics costs are high. According to estimates, goods from the southwestern region exported via the Pinglu Canal will shorten the distance by approximately 560 kilometers compared to the current waterway route. This is expected to further reduce transportation time and logistics costs. Third, "directing sails toward the vast sea." We are synchronously planning and constructing the Pinglu Canal Economic Belt to foster the concentrated growth of industries near ports, including petrochemicals, equipment manufacturing and new metallic materials. Once the canal is completed, 5,000-ton vessels can directly navigate from inland ports along the Xijiang River to coastal ports in China and major ports in Southeast Asia, enhancing connectivity between domestic and international markets. 

Next, we will continue to adhere to the principles of "connecting rivers and reaching the sea, comprehensive planning, one-time completion and systematic operations." We will fully leverage the supervisory roles of expert teams for quality project inspection, green project inspection as well as clean project supervision and guidance. With high standards and quality, we will construct high-quality, environmentally friendly and corruption-free projects. In terms of high-quality projects, we are accelerating the construction of the world's largest inland water-saving ship lock, boasting the highest water transmission efficiency with a water-saving rate exceeding 60%. We are also creating an integrated smart canal system for construction, management and maintenance, achieving a real-time overview of the canal, intelligent control and scheduling, and one-touch access to logistics services. Moreover, we are intensifying research and application efforts focused on sustainable critical materials, aiming to establish projects characterized by long-lasting quality and safety. In terms of green projects, we are rigorously implementing environmental protection as well as soil and water conservation measures, aiming to achieve comprehensive utilization and balance of earthworks while maintaining a modest profit margin. We are striving to construct a green ecological canal characterized by smooth rivers, clear water, fish swimming, green banks, beautiful scenery and low carbon emissions. For instance, last year, we deployed the state-of-the-art "Tianjing" cutter-suction dredger to participate in the construction of the Pinglu Canal. Besides expediting project progress, our primary focus was environmental protection, aiming to minimize the impact on marine life in the operating area and the stability of embankments and adjacent slopes. In terms of clean projects, we are committed to strengthening supervision and guidance, focusing on key aspects, such as project bidding, funding support and conducting ongoing inspections.

With the river thriving, a myriad of industries will flourish. We believe that after the completion of the canal, it will undoubtedly present a grand scene of "one river connecting all parts of Guangxi to the sea."

Thank you.

Zhinews of Shenzhen Satellite TV:

We have noticed that Guangxi has been engaging extensively with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Last month, Guangxi organized economic, trade and cultural exchange activities in Hong Kong and Macao, leading to the signing of letters of intent on comprehensive cooperation. Regarding further integration and exchange with the Greater Bay Area, what specific measures will Guangxi undertake to enhance the connectivity and exchange among those regions? Thank you.

Lan Tianli:

Thank you for your question. Mr. Bai will answer this question.

Bai Songtao:

Thank you for your question. Guangxi shares similarities with the Greater Bay Area in terms of geographical proximity, culture affinity and language. Nearly half of Guangxi's population speaks Cantonese, and there are over six million Guangxi residents working in Guangdong year-round, indicating immense cooperation potential. In recent years, we have actively integrated into the construction of the Greater Bay Area and are fully committed to becoming a crucial strategic hinterland for the Greater Bay Area.

We are striving to become a hub for transportation and logistics. In terms of passenger flow, Guangxi and the Greater Bay Area have formed a 3-hour high-speed rail traffic circle. You can depart Nanning in the morning for tea and business meetings in Guangzhou, then go shopping in Hong Kong and Macao in the afternoon, and return to Nanning in the evening to eat laoyou rice noodles. In terms of logistics, Beibu Gulf Port ranks among the top 10 ports in the country for cargo throughput. The Xijiang River golden waterway is a bustling shipping lane. In 2023, the Changzhou ship lock in Wuzhou recorded a total cargo volume of over 180 million metric tons, becoming China's largest ship lock on river waterways in terms of cargo transportation. We will accelerate the construction of comprehensive transportation channels connecting Guangdong and Guangxi, and reaching Hong Kong, Macao and ASEAN countries, and work to open up wider.

We are catering to industrial development of surrounding areas. We combine capital, technology, talent and other elements in the Greater Bay Area with Guangxi's advantages in areas such as location, resources and ecology. With industrial parks along the border and near ports and the China-ASEAN industrial cooperation zone as important carriers, we undertake industrial transfer from eastern regions in an orderly manner. More and more enterprises from the Greater Bay Area are now investing and settling in Guangxi. In 2023, over 30% of investment in Guangxi came from the Greater Bay Area.

We are striving to become a hub for sci-tech innovation. The Greater Bay Area has notable advantages in sci-tech innovation. We will deepen scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, and comprehensively improve our sci-tech innovation ability and the transformation of sci-tech achievements, based on the platforms commissioned by the country, such as the ASEAN-oriented Cooperation Zone for Scientific and Technological Innovation, the demonstration zone for industry-education partnership featuring integrated development of industries, education and think tanks, as well as the China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Center.

We are striving to ensure the supply of resources and production factors. Endowed with abundant resources, Guangxi has become a crucial supply base for building materials, non-ferrous metals, agricultural and sideline products, as well as electricity in the Greater Bay Area. Also, 70% of the steel used in home appliances in the Pearl River Delta is produced in Guangxi. Guangxi is also an important "vegetable garden" for the Greater Bay Area. Currently, about 40% of fresh vegetables on the dining tables of Hong Kong and Macau compatriots are from Guangxi.

We are striving to create a better ecological environment. Guangxi is the water source and the ecological "back garden" of the Greater Bay Area. We continue to carry out comprehensive management of key river basins such as for the Xijiang River and Jiuzhou River, ensuring that water quality is stable and meets the requisite standards. Our goal is to make it a reality that "clear water flows eastward." As a water source for the Greater Bay Area, the Datengxia water conservancy hydropower project has cumulatively replenished more than 2.5 billion cubic meters of water for it, effectively ensuring water supply there.

That's all from me. Thank you.

Beijing Youth Daily:

Last winter, 11 children from Guangxi became a hit online, and were fondly dubbed the "little tangerines." The story about these kids traveling from Nanning all the way to the Northeast for a study tour has sparked a "two-way rush" between Guangxi and Northeast China. It has also cast a positive light on Guangxi's cultural and tourism industry, with many netizens visiting Guangxi for sightseeing. Could you please introduce the latest situation of Guangxi's cultural and tourism industry? Thank you.

Lan Tianli:

Thank you for your question. When it comes to the "little tangerines," we would like to express our gratitude. We want to thank our good friends in Northeast China for the love and care they showed for the "little tangerines." We want to thank netizens across the country for their online messages of concern and their continued attention to the "little tangerines," and also thank the "little Northeast Tigers," "little rime" and "little frozen pears" for boosting two-way tourism between the northeastern region and Guangxi. We would like to thank tourists both at home and abroad for visiting Guangxi, giving us the thumbs up, and expressing their love for Guangxi. Of course, as chairman of the autonomous region, I would also like to thank every Guangxi resident. Your warm hospitality is the most beautiful sight in Guangxi in the new era.

Magnificent Guangxi, the most beautiful landscape in the world. Guangxi's scenery is extremely picturesque. As I briefly introduced earlier: You can take a boat tour along the Lijiang River and experience the poetic and picturesque scenery. As a poem goes, "Sailing the waves, it feels as if you are in a painting." You can also explore the Leye-Fengshan UNESCO Global Geopark to learn the ancient geological history of the Earth. Boasting beautiful and romantic coastal scenery, Guangxi has over 1,600 kilometers of coastline, with more than 600 islands scattered over a sea area of about 40,000 square kilometers. You can stroll along Beihai Silver Beach, known as the No. 1 beach in the world, and climb the youngest volcanic island in China, Weizhou Island, enjoying the sunshine, beach and waves. Guangxi has magnificent and majestic frontier scenery. Three cities and eight counties in Guangxi border Vietnam, totaling a land boundary of over 1,000 kilometers. You can drive along the "most beautiful border road," experience the romance of "one step across two countries" at Dongxing Port, and then go to Pingxiang to appreciate the grandeur of the Youyi Pass, one of China's 10 most famous passes. Boasting colorful and diverse ethnic cultures, Guangxi is a place where folk songs from all over the world converge. You can brew a cup of Liubao tea, make a pot of oil tea, enjoy a bowl of rice noodles, and experience the unique charms of the Zhuang ethnic songs, Yao dances, Miao festivals, and Dong buildings. Guangxi is a natural paradise thanks to its blue skies, clear water, evergreen trees, blooming flowers and fresh fruit, and is home to long-lived people. You can explore the secrets of long life in Bama county, known as the Longevity Town in the world, and enjoy health benefits from Yao medicine and Yao medicated baths in Jinxiu county, also called the "global capital of Yao ethnic culture."

Guangxi offers beautiful scenery, and words cannot do justice to its beauty. Currently, we are accelerating the development of Guilin into a world-class tourism city and stepping up efforts to build Guangxi as a global tourism destination. We hope you can all visit and see for yourself.

To make travel easier in Guangxi, we launched the "Travel Guangxi" app and WeChat miniprogram. With just a few taps on your phone, you can plan travel routes, purchase discounted tickets, book discounted rooms, rent a car for self-driving tours, and buy Guangxi specialties. We welcome you all to visit Guangxi and enjoy its green mountains and clear waters.

Thank you.

21st Century Business Herald:

The automobile industry is an important pillar of Guangxi's economy. I come from Liuzhou, Guangxi. When I went home for the Chinese New Year this year, I noticed that new energy vehicles (NEVs) produced in Guangxi were everywhere on the streets of Liuzhou. What new measures is Guangxi taking to promote new industrialization and build a modern industrial system? Thank you.

Lan Tianli:

Thank you to the journalist from Liuzhou for your question. I would like to invite Mr. Wang to answer your question.

Wang Yongchao:

Thank you for your interest in Guangxi's industry. Over the past three years, Guangxi has vigorously implemented an industrial revitalization initiative, with total industrial investment exceeding 1 trillion yuan, growing at an average annual rate of 17.3%. The added value of industrial enterprises above designated size grew at an average annual rate of 6.5%, 0.6 percentage point higher than the national average. The high-quality development of the industrial economy is showing good momentum. The NEVs in Liuzhou you mentioned are mostly manufactured by Wuling. The company's cars are affectionately called "Amazing Wuling Cars" online due to their cost-effectiveness, practicality and high quality. They continually meet the people's needs, fulfilling the dreams of car ownership and prosperity held by generations. Wuling Motors is also a microcosm of Guangxi's industry continuously advancing toward higher standards, innovation and excellence. Building on our resource endowment and industrial foundation, we are focusing on competitive industries, concentrating advantageous resources and striving to excel in four key industrial areas:

"Original Brand" resource-based industries are being upgraded. Guangxi ranks among the top in the country for mineral resources such as aluminum, tin, antimony and indium. We have developed our distinctive resources into competitive industries. Industries such as steel, non-ferrous metals and food processing have all achieved industrial output values in excess of 300 billion yuan, marking a transition toward advanced and value-added processing of raw materials. For example, the aluminum industry has established a complete industrial chain from bauxite mining to deep processing of aluminum. Guangxi is capable of manufacturing ultra-thin electronic-grade aluminum foil, lightweight and high-strength aluminum materials for NEVs, and high-end precision aerospace aluminum alloys.

"Old Brand" traditional industries are transforming and breaking new ground. Mechanical and metallurgical industries are the traditional foundation of Guangxi's economy. We support enterprises in upgrading their products, innovating technologies and transitioning to digitalization, thereby achieving the advancement and development of traditional industries. Products and technical services from Guangxi are widely used in many well-known major projects and events, such as the cable net for the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), the high-strength steel reinforcement anchorage system for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the plateau loaders used in the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, and the engines of buses used at the Beijing Olympic Games and Winter Olympic Games.

"New Brand" emerging industries are developing rapidly. Traditional industries can also nurture new quality productive forces. We are promoting integrated industrial development, fostering the rejuvenation of existing industries and the emergence of new ones. These efforts have nurtured a group of emerging industries including new materials, new energy batteries and new energy vehicles, each with a scale exceeding 50 billion yuan. Strategic emerging industries now contribute over 30% to industrial growth.

"External Brand" foreign trade-oriented industries are growing rapidly. Guangxi is developing into a convenient hub for both domestic and international markets. We support enterprises in building cross-border industrial and supply chains, attracting a large number of companies to establish import and export processing and manufacturing bases oriented toward ASEAN. Exports of large-scale machinery and equipment, automotive components, textiles and apparel, electronics and other products manufactured in Guangxi are experiencing rapid growth.

Starting this year, Guangxi will embark on a new three-year industrial revitalization initiative. We will focus on promoting new industrialization, developing new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions, and continuously building pillar industries that embody Guangxi's characteristics and advantages, with significant scale and strong driving force. Our goal is to accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system.

Thank you.

The Voice of Vietnam:

Mr. Lan mentioned Vietnam several times during his introduction and answers just now. In terms of promoting high-quality development, how is Guangxi advancing cooperation with Vietnam, especially in the process of building a convenient operating environment for domestic and international markets? As a province with close cooperation with Vietnam, what new considerations or measures does Guangxi have in mind in the new phase to consolidate and strengthen Sino-Vietnamese relations? Thank you.

Lan Tianli:

Thank you to the reporter from Vietnam. I provided relevant information earlier regarding the establishment of a convenient operating environment for domestic and international markets. In terms of deepening cooperation with Vietnam, I would like to first share a short story with everyone. Last August, a 4-year-old boy from Quang Ninh province in Vietnam, which neighbors Guangxi, fell critically ill with a rare and severe condition. Medical teams from Guangxi and Vietnam closely collaborated, initiating a cross-border medical rescue channel. They facilitated fast-tracked customs clearance, coordinated the transfer, and promptly delivered the critically ill boy to the National Regional Medical Center in Nanning, Guangxi. Following expert consultation, the boy was diagnosed with a rare condition known as Pompe disease. After careful treatment, the boy's condition stabilized, turning the situation from critical to safe. In recent years, there have been over 600 cases like this one where critically ill patients from Vietnam have been treated in Guangxi hospitals through this rescue channel. I believe this lifeline connecting the people of China and Vietnam vividly exemplifies the community of shared future between our two countries.

Guangxi and Vietnam are connected by mountains and rivers,  enjoy geographical proximity and cultural affinity. Our traditional friendship has withstood the test of time and grown even stronger, resulting in very close exchange and cooperation. As China-Vietnam open cooperation continues to deepen, Vietnam has become Guangxi's largest trade partner for the last 25 consecutive years. In 2023, the total value of imports and exports between Guangxi and Vietnam reached 253.95 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 29.2%. From January to May of this year, the total value of imports and exports reached 120.82 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 36.8%.

The building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance gives Guangxi an important mission and task, as well as new historic opportunities for its opening-up and development.

We will accelerate interconnectivity. In terms of railways, the Nanning-Chongzuo section of the Nanning-Pingxiang high-speed railway was completed and opened for use in 2022, and the Chongzuo-Pingxiang section's construction has been sped up. The Fangchenggang-Dongxing high-speed railway started operation in 2023. In terms of highways, Guangxi has planned 13 expressways that lead to Vietnam, with 7 already completed and 6 currently under construction. The China-Vietnam Joint Statement proposes to "promote the cross-border standard-gauge railway connectivity between China and Vietnam, and conduct research on the Dong Dang-Hanoi and the Mong Cai-Ha Long-Haiphong standard-gauge railway projects in due course." This will further facilitate infrastructure "hard connectivity" between Guangxi and Vietnam. We are striving to promote related work on a local level.

We will deepen cross-border industrial cooperation. Last year, Guangxi's imports and exports of intermediate goods with Vietnam grew rapidly. Their proportion in the total value of imports and exports between the two sides ranked among the top nationwide. In the first five months of this year, Guangxi's imports and exports of intermediate goods with Vietnam increased by 46%. This shows that the collaborative work of building China-Vietnam cross-border industrial chains and supply chains via Guangxi is progressing rapidly. We will attract and support more enterprises to settle in Pingxiang, Dongxing and other border and harbor industrial parks in Guangxi. Based on the smart ports and logistics channels connecting China and Vietnam, we will create cross-border industrial chains and supply chains featuring complementary strengths and mutual benefits.

We will strengthen people-to-people exchange and communication in many other areas. An annual exchange meeting between Party secretaries of China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and four Vietnamese border provinces has been held for 9 consecutive years, gradually deepening bilateral exchange in local governance. Over the past decade, nearly 10,000 young people from Guangxi and Vietnam have engaged in exchange visits and friendship activities. The China and Vietnam Border Inhabitants Gala, mainly featuring art performances and folk culture, has been held annually in border cities and counties. The Dongxing (China) -Mong Cai (Vietnam) Friendly Football Match at Lantern Festival has been held 29 times. Border residents from both sides have become friends through football and have celebrated the festival together. Such scenes have become a norm. The Detian-Ban Gioc Waterfall cross-border tourism cooperation zone, the first of its kind in our country, is on a trial run. We will continue to enrich the platforms of interaction and integration between the two sides, so that Guangxi will make more contributions to consolidating a traditional friendship between China and Vietnam.

Thank you.

Phoenix TV:

At the beginning of this year, images of a flock of Eurasian spoonbill foraging on the mud flat were captured by netizens in Beihaicity, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. This wild species, dubbed "a beauty among birds," is under second-class state protection. They have become a beautiful scenic element between the blue sea and sky of Guangxi. My question is: what efforts has Guangxi made in advancing ecological civilization? Thank you.

Lan Tianli:

Thank you for your question. This question will be answered by Xu Yongke, executive vice chairman of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Xu Yongke:

Thanks for your question. The beautiful scenery you mentioned is a vivid reflection of the ever-present green mountains, clear waters, fresh air and pleasant living environments in Guangxi, also the land of Bagui. Guangxi's ecological strengths can never be traded for gold. It serves as an important ecological screen in southern China, and is one of the global biodiversity hotspots. We have firmly adhered to the philosophy of green development as well as formulated and implemented regulations on promoting ecological conservation and other local regulations, so as to better protect mountains and waters in Guangxi, promote the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development and accelerate work to build a beautiful Guangxi and strengthen Guangxi's ecological conservation. 

On the one hand, we have continued to highlight our strengths in natural beauty and good ecology. The Lijiang River is the soul of Guilin's landscape, which is globally renowned as a  calling card for China's tourism. We have formulated the Regulations on the Lijiang River Basin Environmental Protection, set up Lijiang River Protection Day and have regularly released the Lijiang River Ecological Environment Quality Report and the Lijiang River Environmental Index Report. In addition, we have implemented ecological conservation for the Lijiang River based on the rule of law as well as promoted Guilin's application for the United Nations Environment Programme's Champions of the Earth award and the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize. The Lijiang River was selected into the first batch cases of "Beautiful Rivers and Lakes" in China. Comprehensive environmental improvement work in the Lijiang River basin has been recognized as a positive model for achieving solid results from inspections and rectifications. We have continued efforts to keep the skies blue, waters clear and lands clean, coordinately taking a holistic and systematic approach to the protection and conservation of mountain, water, forest, farmland, grassland, sea and wetland ecosystems. The quality of the ecological environment in the autonomous region has maintained a leading position in the country. In recent years, new species such as the Nidirana guibeiensis , Oreonectes andongensis and Prunus quanzhouensis have been discovered in Guangxi one after another. Bryde's whales, a rare species, have been spotted swimming freely in waters near Weizhou Island, making a new tourist hotspot in Beihai. Meanwhile, Chinese white dolphins and mangroves have become salient features of Qinzhou. Together with the area's large-scale industry, this demonstrates harmony between humanity and nature.

On the other hand, we are striving to broaden the development path of transforming lucid waters and lush mountains into invaluable assets. We stick to the dual-pathway approach of developing green industries and transforming industries toward green development, vigorously boosting industries such as forestry, cultural tourism, elderly care and comprehensive health care services in order to turn ecological strengths into developmental strengths. In 2023, Guangxi successfully hosted the first World Forestry Industry Conference. The total output value of the forestry and grassland industry reached nearly one trillion yuan, with every two pieces of domestically produced timber coming from Guangxi. The total investment funds for projects within the green and environmentally friendly industrial chain reached nearly 300 billion yuan, with 347 new projects signed and 112.9 billion yuan in available funds, aiming to achieve high-quality development through green transition. For example, Yangshuo county allocates 10% of its annual revenue from the Lijiang River and Yulong River scenic areas to 35,000 villagers along the rivers, allowing everyone to share in benefits from ecological dividend. The concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" has taken root and borne fruit in Guangxi.

Thank you.

National Business Daily:

We have noticed that in recent years Guangxi has undertaken the construction of the largest integrated new chemical materials industrial project transferred from the eastern region. How is the project going? How can Guangxi leverage its advantages to build industrial parks along the border and near ports to attract and absorb transferred industries? Thank you.

Lan Tianli:

I'd like to invite Mr. Bai to answer your questions.

Bai Songtao:

Thank you for your attention to the development of industrial parks along the border and near ports. The Huayi Qinzhou New Chemical Materials Integrative Base project you mentioned is not only the largest industrial project transferred from the eastern region to Guangxi in recent years, but also the largest single investment project of Shanghai Huayi (Group) Company in the past 10 years. As of the end of this May, over 35 billion yuan had been invested in the first and second phases of the project, and over 2 billion yuan had been put into the third phase. This project is located in the Qinzhou area of Guangxi's border and ports industrial park. Currently, the industrial park consists of areas in the cities of Dongxing, Pingxiang, Qinzhou, and Beihai. We have been leveraging the advantages of our unique location as well as market and policy incentives to create a comprehensive platform for industrial competition and cooperation, thereby attracting and absorbing phased trans-regional relocation of industries.

First, we have strengthened synergy with major national development strategies. We have proactively enhanced link with the country's regional development strategies, such as the development of the Yangtze Economic Belt, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and the Hainan Free Trade Port. We have signed cooperation agreements with relevant provinces and cities, and have held discussions with central SOEs at seminars hosted by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council. We work hard to build consensus and promote all parties to cooperate with Guangxi in building the industrial park. Currently, we are accelerating the implementation of a batch of projects including the Jiangmen (Chongzuo) Industrial Zone. 15 central SOEs have signed 18 cooperation agreements with relevant cities in Guangxi, with a total investment of over 130 billion yuan.

Second, we have been building cross-border and cross-regional industrial and supply chains. We timely analyzed the cooperation potential and prospects with key regions in China and ASEAN countries in building relevant industrial and supply chains, rolled out support for the fostering of a group of industries which are complementary in resources for differentiated development and can serve as strong growth drivers, and strengthened open cooperation in industrial and supply chains. In addition to the petrochemical industry in Qinzhou city that was mentioned by Mr. Lan just now, electronic information, automobile and other industries in Guangxi also have close cooperation with ASEAN countries.

Third, we focus on releasing policy dividends. China has introduced fiscal, tax, land use, employment and financial policies to support the development of Guangxi's border and ports industrial park. For example, new investment enterprises that are in line with the industrial development direction can enjoy the preferential policy of "having their corporate income tax exempted for the first 5 years and halved for the following 5 years for the share to be taken by the region." These enterprises do not need to invest in foreign countries to build factories and recruit workers, but can still save their investment cost through these preferential treatments.

From January to April of this year, the total industrial output value of the border and ports industrial park increased by 14.5% year-on-year, and fixed-asset investment increased by 45%, showing a good momentum of development. We sincerely invite domestic and foreign enterprises to visit Guangxi for business opportunities, make investment here, and share opportunities from the development of the border and ports industrial park.

Thank you.

Jinan Times APP:

Guangxi has a wide variety of fruits throughout the four seasons, especially mangoes, dragon fruits and other high-quality fruits that are abundantly produced and affordable. Many netizens say that they can enjoy "fruit freedom" in Guangxi. My question is how does Guangxi develop fruit and other special agricultural industries? Thank you.

Lan Tianli:

Thank you for your question. I would like to invite Mr. Xu to answer it.

Xu Yongke:

Thank you for your attention to Guangxi's agriculture. Good mountains and good water nurture good products. Guangxi is one of the few regions in China that is suitable for comprehensive development in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishing. Based on our resource endowment, we have developed six 100-billion-yuan level characteristic agricultural industries including grain, sugar, fruit, vegetables, livestock and poultry, and fisheries. This has not only contributed to the stable production and supply of important agricultural products nationwide but also provided solid support for continuously consolidating and expanding achievements in poverty alleviation and comprehensively promoting rural revitalization. In 2023, the per capita disposable income of rural residents in Guangxi was 18,656 yuan, an increase of 7% year-on-year, which was 3 percentage points higher than that of urban residents. The per capita disposable income of farmers in areas that had been lifted out of poverty was 16,914 yuan, an increase of 12.5% year-on-year.

Now, I will focus on the development of three industries.

We work hard to strengthen the fruit industry. Guangxi has a large-scale fruit industry with a great variety of fruits. Subtropical fruits such as litchi and longan are very common. Traditional fruits in northern China such as persimmons and pears are also widely grown here. There are nearly 300 varieties of fruits, with seasonal fruits becoming available every month. Mr. Lan has just mentioned that last year our fruit output was 33.89 million tons, accounting for about one-eighth of the national total. In addition, more than half of the fruits from ASEAN countries, such as durian and mangosteen, which are widely popular among Chinese consumers, are imported through Guangxi. We are currently accelerating the building of the China-ASEAN Fruit Trading Center to better promote the export of apples, citrus and other fruits and the import of tropical fruits.

We strive to promote the sugar industry. Guangxi has ranked first in the country when it comes to sugarcane planting acreage and sugar production for 33 consecutive years. We always adhere to the special mission of ensuring the country's sugar security, making every effort to stabilize the planting area while also striving to promote scientific and technological innovation in the sugar industry. The self-bred sugarcane varieties such as Guitang 42 and Guitang 44 have superior performance indicators, such as high yield and high sugar content, compared to the original imported varieties. We are committed to building high-quality and high-yield sugarcane bases that plant sugarcanes with high sugar content. Our goal is to create protection zones for sugarcane planting and facilitate the transition of the traditional sugar industry toward biochemical industry, food industry and the fermentation industry. Our "sweet business" is continuously progressing and improving.

We are dedicated to strengthening the vegetable industry. Guangxi, often referred to as a "natural green greenhouse," is the largest production base for autumn and winter vegetables in China. We actively promote the standardized development of vegetable cultivation, both in facility-based and park-based settings, and prioritize the establishment of cold storage, warehousing, sorting and distribution centers. These efforts position us as a significant hub for transporting "southern vegetables to the north" and "western vegetables to the east". Last year, Guangxi produced over 40 million tonnes of vegetables, with over 10 million tonnes being transported to other regions. Hezhou city, adjacent to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), supplies approximately 70% of the vegetables to the GBA market each year.

Next, we will continue to leverage our unique resources, such as forestry, fruit, vegetables, livestock and sugar, to develop modern special agriculture, providing more high-quality specialized agricultural products while ensuring the wider recognition of the "Guangxi brand" across the country

Thank you.

CCTV:

We know that every year on the third day of the third lunar month, Guangxi hosts a vibrant and diverse cultural event where people from various ethnic groups come together to sing and dance in celebration. Being the autonomous region with the largest ethnic minority population in the country, how can Guangxi establish itself as a model for forging a stronger sense of community for the Chinese nation? Thank you.

Lan Tianli:

Thank you for the question. Guangxi is home to 12 different ethnic minorities, making up 37.52% of the population. The people from all ethnic groups have lived as one family for a long time, "sharing the same sky, cultivating the same land, drinking the same river water and building a home together." The relationships between the different ethnic groups are harmonious. In Guangxi, there are over 1.63 million families composed of two or more ethnic groups. In Longsheng county, there is a family surnamed Hou and comprised of five different ethnicities: Zhuang, Han, Yao, Miao, and Dong. They live together harmoniously, sharing love, care and a joyous life. Our primary focus is on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation . We strive to jointly foster shared cultural belonging to the Chinese nation and build our homeland into a happy one with prosperity for all, a harmonious one where mutual support prevails, a livable and scenic one as well as a stable one with peaceful border regions.

In terms of jointly fostering shared cultural belonging to the Chinese nation, we are committed to further promoting and cultivating a strong sense of  community for the Chinese nation, creating special cultural brands, such as "Guangxi Lunar March 3rd" and "Liu Sanjie," preserving priceless cultural treasures like the bronze drum and Zhuang brocade as well as advancing the popularization of standard spoken and written Chinese. The popularity of standard Chinese has reached 85.68%, nearly 5 percentage points higher than the national average. A sense of community for the Chinese nation is deeply rooted within the land of Guangxi.

In terms of building a happy homeland with prosperity for all, we are committed to advancing the high-quality development of compact communities in which ethnic minorities live. Additionally, we have extensively promoted a program for boosting development and raising living standards in border areas in the new era. By doing so, we aim to ensure that people of all ethnic groups can press forward for a good life and share the development achievements. Huanjiang is the only autonomous county of the Maonan ethnic group in the country. General Secretary Xi Jinping has issued the important instruction regarding the whole Maonan ethnic group's poverty alleviation. There is a charming village in Huanjiang, and I have visited it many times for research. Before poverty alleviation, this village encountered challenges in transportation, medical treatment and healthcare services. Through relocation from inhospitable areas, east-west cooperation and targeted assistance, industrial development and the promotion of all-around rural revitalization, the village has shaken off poverty and now embarked on a path of "improving education, gaining employment, facilitating tourism and realizing industrial prosperity." The villagers' lives are getting better, and the charming village has also taken on a new look. There are many examples like this in poverty alleviation.

In terms of building a harmonious homeland where mutual support prevails, our work starts at the grassroots level with solid community construction, effective services and a wealth of activities to serve and promote connection, interaction and integration among various ethnic groups. For example, in the poverty alleviation, we have built 506 centralized relocation sites, resettling over 160,000 households and 710,000 individuals. Over 90% of these resettlement sites are inhabited by multiple ethnic groups. People of all ethnic groups live, study, work and enjoy together, collaborating to create a good and harmonious life.

We have introduced the construction of a livable, healthy and beautiful homeland. It is apparent to all that there have been remarkable achievements in building a stable homeland with peaceful border regions. However, due to time limitation, a detailed explanation cannot be provided at this time. 

Just now, you mentioned "Lunar March 3rd," which is a statutory holiday in Guangxi and also a traditional festival celebrated by many ethnic groups. It is a symbol of Chinese culture that we all benefit from. We warmly invite all journalists to come to Guangxi and experience the warmth of various ethnic groups that are as close as family and united in harmony.

Thank you.

Xing Huina:

Today's briefing is hereby concluded. Thank you to all speakers and friends from the press. Goodbye.

Translated and edited by Wang Yiming, Yang Xi, Qin Qi, Zhang Tingting, Liu Caiyi, Li Xiao, Dong Qingpei, Wang Ziteng, Wang Qian, Liu Qiang, Huang Shan, Wang Wei, Yuan Fang, Ma Yujia, Zhang Junmian, Wang Yanfang, Li Huiru, David Ball, and Rochelle Beiersdorfer. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.