Guangxi recently issued the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for the Beibu Gulf, which noted that the 14th Five-Year Plan period is one that provides strategic opportunities for the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone to speed up its services and integrate into the new development pattern to achieve rapid high-quality development.

The plan proposes that the Beibu Gulf will enhance its economic development level. The average annual growth rate of the economic zone's GDP is projected to be more than one percentage point higher than that of the whole region, while its total economic volume will account for more than 50 percent of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region's total. In addition, its per capita GDP is expected to be among Guangxi's highest.

The Beibu Gulf will raise the level of its openness and cooperation. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone will build an efficient, convenient, green, and safe New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. The container throughput of the Beibu Gulf International Gateway Port will reach 10 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), while the cargo throughput will reach 500 million metric tons, the container volume of sea combined transport will reach 600,000 TEUs, and the number of cross-border railway trains will reach 2,000. In addition, the operation of channels, ports, and logistics hubs will be more efficient.

"In 2022, we will focus on increasing speed, volume, quality and efficiency, focusing on key tasks like the development of the modern industrial system, the construction of the Beibu Gulf international gateway port, and the construction of the logistics system," said Huang Wuhai, executive deputy director of the Beibu Gulf office of the China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

Qinzhou Port's automated container terminal. [Photo/WeChat account: zmqqzgpq]