Yunnan opens wider for higher-quality growth
A news event on Yunnan’s quickened efforts in building itself into a Chinese pivot of opening-up to south and southeast Asia was held in Kunming on February 24, briefing on the new progress in Yunnan's high-level opening-up and its role-taking as the pivot.
Yunnan launches a China-Laos freight train. Photo/Yunnan Daily
Infrastructural connection quickened
The Chinese sections of the China-Vietnam, China-Laos and China-Myanmar international expressways have been completed in Yunnan, and the Vientiane-Vang Vieng section of the China-Laos freeway has opened to traffic.
Yunnan has opened air routes to 43 cities in the south and southeast Asian countries, ranking first among Chinese provinces.
The China-Laos railway has served over 10,457,100 passengers and transported 14,504,700 tons of goods. The goods in 1,200 plus varieties were transported among China, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Bangladesh and others, with the typical ones being electronics, photovoltaics, phones, cars and flowers.
A sign of rising cross-border RMB settlement. Online photo subject to deletion in case of IPR infringement.
International trade gains speed
Yunnan's foreign trade reached 334.24 billion yuan in 2022, an increase of 6.3%. The trade volume with ASEAN countries reached 127.37 billion yuan, accounting for 38.1% of the province's total.
In the past 10 years, Yunnan has utilized 7.15 billion US dollars of foreign capital, and around 140 Fortune 500 companies have had presence in the province.
By the end of 2022, Yunnan had opened cross-border RMB settlement channels with 120 countries/regions.
Yunnan has put Xishuangbanna’s Mohan border town under Kunming’s jurisdiction, and by joining efforts at the provincial, municipal and prefectural levels, this aims to build the town into an international port city. The province has stepped up smart services at the dry ports of Mohan, Hekou, Ruili, Wanding, Houqiao and Qingshuihe.
International students in Yunnan. Photo/Yunnan Daily
People-to-people bonds in depth
Yunnan has deepened its cooperation with the neighboring countries in education, culture, tourism, sci-tech, health, and eco-protection.
Education institutions based in the province have opened branches in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Iran, Kenya and others.
With success, Yunnan held the 2022 China International Travel Mart, the Summit Forum on China-Laos Railway Conducive to an Asian Community of Shared Future, and more.
The province has joined hands with the south and southeast Asian countries in establishing 37 joint-innovation platforms, 14 international sci-tech cooperation bases at the national level, and 74 bases at the provincial level.
By the end of 2022, Yunnan had established 105 pairs of sister cities with 37 countries on five continents and 28 pairs of sister villages with neighboring countries.
The 2022 China International Travel Mart is held in Kunming, Yunnan province. Photo/Yunnan Daily
In the future, Yunnan will:
★ Focus on smoother facility interconnection. Carrying forward major projects along the China-Laos railway, Yunnan will further connect the Lancang-Mekong express trains with the China-Europe freight trains and the Lancang-Mekong international ships.
★ Implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with care. Taking an active role in constructing Version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, the province will deepen the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and the Greater Mekong Subregional Economic Cooperation, while contributing to upgrade of the China-Laos and China-Myanmar economic corridors.
★ Quicken the development of port economy.
★ Enhance the competitiveness of Yunnan-featured industries.
★ Increase cultural bonds with neighboring countries. Yunnan will build a multi-level platform for people-to-people exchanges with the south and southeast Asian countries.
By Gateway reporters