Closer biz ties with ASEAN sought
By Liu Weifeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-03-15 10:36

Enterprises in South China's Guangdong Province are being encouraged to develop business ties with the neighbouring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in Southwest China to help them gain easier access to the South Asian market.

Guangxi is the closest region in China that borders countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an important trading partner. And the capital city Nanning has won the bid to regularly hold the China-ASEAN Expo, starting in November.

"Guangxi serves as a good option for Guangdong enterprises to expand their businesses at a rather low cost," said Wu Kaili, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of Economic Development and Trade.

He made the remarks during a week-long visit to Guangxi, which included an 80-member delegation with leaders from Guangdong's industry, trade, logistics, catering, financing, human resources and tourism sectors.

The delegates discussed possible investment opportunities for 430 proposed projects in Guangxi.

The suggested projects cover numerous sectors including infrastructure, trade, logistics and tourism.

Mai Kejun, president of the Guangdong Heli Motor Company, said she plans to set up a motor trading centre in Nanning and launch a hardware business in Chongzuo after her fact-finding visit to the two cities. She has also shown interest in conducting business with Pingxiang county, which borders Viet Nam.

Nanning, Chongzuo and Pingxiang were the three destinations on the week-long visit.

"The three places are the most important channels directly linking China with the ASEAN," said Wu.

President of Imperial Hot Spring International Zhu Yuedong said he was excited about local natural resources and was pleased to hear about preferential policies in place to lure investors. But, he said, local residents are less aware about turning hot spring resources into a tourism business, which makes further negotiations problematic.

Construction on the Guangdong Products Commercial Road and Guangdong Industrial Park will soon begin in the capital city Nanning, sources said. These will serve to showcase Guangdong products and export them to Viet Nam and other ASEAN nations.

"Most industrial products exports to Viet Nam are made in Guangdong," said Yang Daoxi, deputy governor of Guangxi responsible for the economy and trade work.