New progress made in pivot of opening up
During his inspection tour to Yunnan in January 2015, President Xi Jinping hoped that the province could try its best to be China’s pivot of opening-up to south and southeast Asia.
In January 2020, President Xi Jinping visited Yunnan, expecting the province to make strides in opening-up by stepping up facilities connectivity, cultural exchanges and people-to-people bonds with the neighboring countries.
In the past seven years, Yunnan has focused on policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds, in a bid to make progresses in fulfilling its role as China’s pivot of opening-up to south and southeast Asia.
In the first month of 2022, people worldwide have expressed their wishes to Yunnan
Opening-up with charm, driving force
The China-Laos railway and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) were recently inaugurated one after another, placing Yunnan in the spotlight.
Soon, 100 plus tons of Yunnan vegetables reached Thailand via a freight train on China-Laos railway.
Over 3,000 boxes of Thai milk tea arrived at a free trade zone in central Yunnan’s Kunming following the RCEP’s effect.
Both Thai diners at the table and Yunnan traders via international e-commerce felt the convenience by the connections.
“Yunnan flowers are favored by Thai nationals, while the Thai rice and fruits sell well in the Chinese province,” said Nat Vimonchandra, commercial consul at the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kunming. He noted the RCEP cuts trade barriers and will facilitate Thailand-Yunnan economic ties.
"The opening of China-Laos railway will inject new vigor into cross-border trade. Goods will flock to Laos from its neighbors, facilitating trade near the Laos-Thailand border," said Sithixay Xayavong, director of the Chinese Studies Center at National University of Laos.
In the first 11 months of 2021, Yunnan's foreign trade amounted to 274.29 billion yuan, increasing by 18.9% year on year.
Innovation of shared benefits
While Yunnan has sent special technicians with cutting-edge skills and ideas to ASEAN and south Asia, youngsters from neighboring countries have also been in Yunnan for learning or job training.
In Pakistan, yield of the hybrid wheat has increased a lot thanks to Yunnan technical aid and pilot projects.
Fan Xingming, a Yunnan agronomist, was awarded by Lao government for his great contribution.
In the years to come, Yunnan will invite in more young scientists, entrepreneurs, innovative talents for joint research platforms. By sharing the platforms with their regional peers, they will allow technologies to be better applied to the neighboring countries.
Technology will prevail in China's cooperation with south and southeast Asian countries in the foreseeable future.
High-quality financial avenue
Direct payment in Chinese yuan or Myanmar kyat has been realized by joint effort of Yunnan and Myanmar, bringing financial integration and opportunities.
In December 2021, Myanmar allowed Chinese yuan or Myanmar kyat to be accepted in payment for border trade.
Some Myanmar traders already opened yuan accounts at designated banks in the border towns.
U Win Htay, vice president of the Mandalay Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said this has made cross-trade much easier. “Myanmar and China have long cooperated in economy, and traders in the countries will see the convenience by direct payment or settlement.”
As Yunnan stepped its financial openness, direct RMB settlement channels have been opened at 700 overseas bank branches.
People-to-people exchanges
In December 2021, the China-Myanmar Twin City Media Forum took place again in Kunming, Yunnan province.
Also staged virtually online, the forum was attended by senor officials, IR scholars, journalists and translators involved in China-Myanmar communications.
The China-Myanmar Media Research Center and the Translation Workshop for China-Myanmar International Communication were unveiled at the forum.
"China attaches importance to media cooperation with Myanmar. Only when confidence is gained among journalists in the countries, can the idea of Myanmar-China community of shared future grow in the folk hearts," said U Win Tin, chief editor at Northern Light, a national weekly of Myanmar.
Aiding the neighboring countries in Covid fight, Kunming University of Science and Technology donated AI machine translators to the ASEAN nations.
Yunnan Minzu University is offering students programs that cover 15 languages used in south and southeast Asian countries.
The brightness journeys provided free surgery for cataract patients in the neighboring countries, and Yunnan medics also helped them fight the Covid outbreaks.
Seven years on, Yunnan cities have forged 103 partnerships with peers in 36 countries across the world, standing with the partners through thick and thin.
For seven years, Yunnan media joined hands with the neighboring outlets in telling Chinese stories on regional cooperation.
For seven years, Yunnan and its neighbors have work together for joint openness featuring win-win results, shared responsibilities and coordinated policies.