Page 106 - 2023 Special Report on the State of Business in South China

platforms, such as the GBA, Western Land and Sea
New Corridor, China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade
Zone, China-ASEAN Information Port, and the
signing of RCEP will provide strong support for
Guangxi to make full use of both domestic and
international two markets and two resources and
promote strategic emerging industries to integrate
into the national and ASEAN industrial chains.
Main tasks55:
- Guangxi aims to improve the contribution
of value-added of strategic emerging industry to
GDP to 10% by the year of 2025.
- Enhance the cooperation with ASEAN on
innovation, Guangxi will make full use of regional
innovative resources, to attract innovative talent and
effectuate breakthroughs in the core technologies.
- Support traditional industries, such as
metallurgy, automotive, machinery manufacturing
on transition and upgrading, accelerate the
development of modern agriculture, forming
a series of innovative brands, products, and
standards to reach the international high-level.
- The initial scope of industrial cluster will
be basically constructed, showing a pattern of
complementary and differentiated advantages.
Important areas along the coast, the border and the
rivers will be fully integrated into the development
of dual circulation strategy.
- Guangxi will take irreplaceable responsibility
in the construction of supply chain and innovation
chain between China and ASEAN.
Special economic zones
China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone
The China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone
(GXFTZ) was one of six pilot zones designated by the
State Council in August 2019. The GXFTZ consists of
three areas: 46.8km2 in Nanning, including 2.4km2
of the Nanning Comprehensive Bonded Zone;
58.2km2 in Qinzhou Port area, including 8.8km2
55 Government site of Guangxi, http://www.gxzf.
gov.cn/zfwj/zzqrmzfwj_34845/t10267020.shtml
106
of the Qinzhou Free Trade Port Area; and 15km2
in Chongzuo, including 1.0km2 of the Pingxiang
Integrated Free Trade Zone56.
The GXFTZ aims to make full use of the
geographic advantages of Guangxi and ASEAN
countries, contributes to the construction of the
New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in West
China, as well as forms an important gateway for
the connection between the Maritime Silk Road and
the Silk Road Economic Belt. The GXFTZ also strives
to build a high-standard and high-quality free
trade zone with convenient trade and investment,
exemplary financial services, as well as safe and
efficient supervision after three to five years of
reform and exploration57.
Division of functions58:
Nanning area:
- Modern finance: focusing on the
development of modern finance, scientific
innovation, information services and headquarter
economies, the area will build itself into a core
region opening-up to ASEAN countries
- Digital economy: focusing on the
development of cloud computing, big data,
e-commerce, scientific innovation, intelligent
city and smart manufacturing, the area will build
itself into a highly synergetic digital economy
development zone targeting ASEAN countries
- Culture, sports and health care: focusing
on the development of culture, arts, modern media
and health care, the area will build itself into a
cultural exchange and cooperation demonstration
zone oriented toward ASEAN countries
- Processing, trade and logistics: focusing on
the development of strategic emerging industries,
export-oriented processing, intelligent logistics,
cross-border e-commerce and bonded business,
the area will build itself into an advanced regional
56 Government site of Guangxi, http://en.gxzf.
gov.cn/2019-11/12/c_423857.htm
57 Government site of Guangxi, http://en.gxzf.
gov.cn/2019-11/12/c_423857.htm
58 China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone,
http://subsites.chinadaily.com.cn/guangxi/ftz/2021-
07/28/c_646541.htm