On Nov 10, the Liuzhou government singed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group.

The agreement layed the framework for the development and construction of Liuzhou city, including the construction of Liuzhou Fengqing port, the development and construction of an inland port, the construction of logistics distribution centers and the building of urban infrastructure.

The total investment reached five billion yuan. The two sides are devoted to building an inland port in the southwest region by promoting the construction of ports, logistics infrastructure and municipal infrastructure in Liuzhou. Chen Gang, the Party Secretary of Liuzhou, said the strategic cooperation would promote Liuzhou to be a significant node for Beibu Gulf logistics system to radiate inland.

Making use of Liuzhou's transportation location advantages, the establishment would connect the southwest, the central south area, the east and the south of China. As an industrial city of Guangxi, Liuzhou accounts for a third of the total industrial output of Guangxi, taking the lead in the progress of Guangxi industrialization.

In recent years, the Liuzhou government has implemented a strategy of "upgrading the economy and transforming the city", and has cooperated actively with Beibu Gulf economic zone, seeking a win-win situation for both sides. Ye Shixiang, chairman of Guangxi Beibu Gulf international port group Co Ltd, said the company would make use of the key role that ports play in distributing resources and will continuously improve the functions of harbors, building logistics networks, a bonded area and inland ports, decreasing logistics cost and increasing product competitiveness in Liuzhou.

Ye Shixiang said two billion yuan would be injected into building a modern logistics base that combines the functions of storage, logistics distribution and message trading. As an inland port, it also has the port service functions of customs clearance, inspection and issuing the bill of lading.

During the "Twelfth Five-Year" period (2011-2015), Guangxi will engage in the construction and operating of the bonded zone of Qinzhou, the bonded logistics center of Nanning and the comprehensive bonded zone of Pingxiang. It will also promote the expansion and upgrading of the export processing zone of Beihai city in order to perfect the inland network of inland ports.

Guangxi will build a completed bonded logistics system in the Guangxi Beibu Gulf economic zone, making it a vital hub connecting southwest China and southeast Asian countries and a large-scale logistics trading base which will consist of harbors, airport, and frontier ports.

By Liu Xiaoqiong (China Daily Guangxi Bureau)