Guizhou to boost inland open economy under national guidelines

The Guiyang Gaimao logistics center distributes China-Europe freight trains that export Guizhou's products to Europe. [Photo/Guizhou Daily]

In January this year, the State Council issued a document to support Southwest China's Guizhou province in becoming a reform demonstration area for China's Western Development Program, an example of how to consolidate poverty alleviation achievements, a hub of inland open economy, an innovation area for digital economy development, and a pioneer of ecological civilization construction.

According to the document, by 2025, Guizhou will seek to further open its economy, consolidate poverty alleviation achievements, bolster rural revitalization, form a modern industrial system, become a national leader in terms of the growth of digital economy, increase the eco-friendliness of industrial development, improve public services, and make progress in preventing and dissolving debt risks.

By 2035, Guizhou will seek to boost international economic cooperation and competitiveness; improve its basic public service quality, convenience of infrastructure and people's well-being, improve the natural environment, and realize socialist modernization.

To construct an inland open economy hub, Guizhou will provide more convenience for trade and investment by participating in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and constructing an international data hub.

It will also develop new business models for international trade, and expand the export of mechanical and electrical products, environmentally-friendly chemical products and characteristic agricultural products.

To improve domestic and international transportation, the province will construct railways connecting with surrounding provinces, open more water transportation routes to the Yangtze River and Pearl River, and turn Guiyang and Zunyi into national comprehensive transportation hubs.

Guizhou will also support the opening-up of Guiyang's air hub; help Guangzhou port, Shenzhen port and Beibu Gulf port set dry ports in Guizhou; increase the popularity of the Big Data Expo and China (Guizhou) International Alcoholic Beverage Expo; and improve the standards and quality of the Eco Forum Global Guiyang and International Mountain Tourism Conference.

Guizhou will also enhance cooperation with other areas by participating in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, enhancing cooperation with other provinces in environmental protection, coordinating industrial development and the sharing of public services, and expanding cooperation with the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle in transportation, energy, big data, culture and tourism.

The regional cooperation is expected to provide more opportunities for Guizhou to take part in the global value chain centered on domestic markets.