Trade corridor fuels western China's growth

From national to global

Chongqing's Tongnan has long been celebrated as one of the world's premier lemon-growing areas, often mentioned in the same breath as California in the United States and Sicily in Italy. However, for years, reaching markets beyond the local area remained a challenge for Tongnan's prized citrus.

The new western land-sea corridor has been a game-changer for Tongnan's lemons, propelling them into over 30 countries and regions, including Thailand, Singapore and Russia.

This surge in global reach is not exclusive to lemons. A range of regional specialties, once local secrets, are now making their mark on the world stage through the corridor. Ningxia's wines and goji berry juices, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region's nuts, Guangxi's signature Luosifen noodles, and Guizhou's teas are gaining international acclaim, boosting the growth of their local economies.

Shortly after the China-Laos Railway began operation, a new freight service was launched, further boosting trade between China's western region and both ASEAN and Europe. Leveraging the corridor, businesses in western China are rapidly integrating into the global industrial landscape.

In Chongqing, motorcycles produced by Chongqing D-Chamwin Motor Technology Co Ltd are shipped as parts via the corridor's cross-border highway express. Four days later, they arrive at the company's factory in Mandalay, Myanmar, where they are assembled into complete vehicles for local consumers.

Previously, logistical challenges had hindered the company's expansion. "Logistics used to take too long and the cost was too high," said the company's general manager, Yang Heping. Motorcycles have a broad market in Southeast Asian countries, but traditionally, exporting to these nations meant relying on time-consuming river-sea intermodal transport, which often took up to two months or longer.

The new western land-sea corridor has significantly tightened the trade ties between western inland areas like Chongqing and Southeast Asian countries.

"With the new corridor, we're down to a minimum of just four days for delivery, and overseas markets have suddenly become accessible," Yang said.

The relentless progress of the corridor has also paved the way for more domestic and international businesses to delve into the expansive Chinese market.

Hu Shengli, who works with Thongta International Logistics (Lao) Co Ltd, noted that the China-Laos Railway has been a boon for Laos, providing not just streamlined transportation, but also economic growth and increased job opportunities, thereby improving the standards of living for local people.

"Prior to 2021, the price for dried cassava slices was a mere 700 yuan ($98) per ton, whereas now it has surged to 1,200 yuan per ton," he said.

"Durians picked in Thailand are transported by truck to the Laotian capital Vientiane and then sent to Kunming in Southwest China via the China-Laos Railway. The entire journey can be completed in as short as three and a half days," said Fan Ligang, head of a trading company in Guangzhou, adding that timely transportation ensures the quality of the durians. "Previously, our main customers were in Guangdong and Qingdao. Now, we're looking to expand into markets in Chengdu and Guizhou."

Xinhua