Yunnan strives to become China's new pivot facing S and SE Asia

In January 2015, President Xi Jinping suggested in his inspection tour in Yunnan that the province should take its role as border province, serving key national initiatives actively and striving to become China’s new pivot of opening-up facing South and Southeast Asia.

In January 2020, President Xi Jinping arrived in Yunnan for another inspection. He pointed out that Yunnan needs to actively serve China’s key national initiatives by accelerating its development based on opening up, and strengthening its connectivity and cultural exchanges with neighboring countries. 

 

Opening-up is Yunnan’s future

Over the year of 2020, a number of projects were underway despite the “new normal” brought by the COVID-19.  

On December 20, 2020, the Vientiane-Vang Vieng Highway invested by enterprises from both Yunnan and Laos was open to traffic. The history of Laos without highways thus came to an end. 

  

The signing ceremony of the memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

And on January 10, 2021, China and Myanmar signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct feasibility study of Mandalay-Kyaukphyu Railway. This is a milestone in the construction of China-Myanmar Railway. 

On January 11, the Baluo 2 Tunnel on the China-Laos Railway was completed. So far, 89 out of 93 tunnels on this railway (China section) have finished their construction. The China-Laos Railway, stretching over 1,000 kilometers, is a key project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative which dedicates to turning Laos from a land-locked country to a land-linked one. 

 

Striving for more achievements

In order to promote connectivity, Yunnan has also been keen on improving its transportation infrastructures.

  

The China-Laos Railway under construction 

The China-Laos Railway is estimated to be completed and open to traffic later this year, and Yunnan’s provincial highway network has also been formed.

Air routes from Yunnan to all capitals of South and Southeast Asian countries have been available, and trans-national waterways are under construction.

Moreover, cooperation in the fields of energy and communication with neighboring countries are deepening

As a province in which mountainous areas account for 94 percent of its territory, Yunnan has created a miracle of building connectivity. 

 

A bridge between China and ASEAN

Yunnan is China’s window to South and Southeast Asia countries. After the signing of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Yunnan has gone one step further to become a bridge which links China and the member countries of RCEP together.

Yunnan has extended its trader partners to 206 countries and regions worldwide, and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) has long been the No.1 trade partner of the province. 

  

China Postal Airlines open air route between Kunming and Bangkok. (Photo taken by Yang Zheng)

A new business model which combines the Internet and border trade together has helped create a market valuing billions of yuan.  

In addition, Yunnan province had had 882 enterprises overseas, covering 61 countries and regions. 

The Kunming Area of China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone

And by October 2020, Yunnan had attracted investment from 5396 foreign companies across 90 countries and regions worldwide, with an overall amount of 21.78 billion US dollars. 

 

A shared future

President Xi Jinping said in the keynote speech of the 3rd China International Import Expo that we need to commit to mutual opening up that features shared benefits, shared responsibilities and shared governance.

In January 2020，many foreign friends were concerned about Yunnan when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. 

  

Yunnan donates medical supplies to Myanmar.

Later when the pandemic hit the entire world, Yunnan, in return, started to extend help to people overseas. 

In the battle against COVID-19，We heard a very clear voice：“Happiness is a pursuit of all mankind”.  

This is the first year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. It is also where China’s “Two Centenary Goals” join together.

Yunnan is striving to become China’s new pivot of opening-up facing South and Southeast Asia is the new mission of Yunnan province.

Writing by Zhu Dongran; trans-editing by Wang Jinzhong