Guangxi authorities announced today that the Pinglu Canal will officially open to navigation on September 16. As the first major canal since the founding of New China to connect an inland river directly to the sea, it has established the shortest passage to the ocean for the southwest region.

Cargo from the southwest moving through this canal will reduce inland waterway transit by more than 560 kilometers compared to traditional routes, saving society over 5 billion yuan in transportation costs annually. The waterway will accommodate inland vessels, ocean-going ships, and compliant international vessels, with 570 ships already certified for navigation, ensuring ample capacity.

Operational efficiency is remarkably high, featuring the world's fastest valve opening and closing speeds. As the saying goes, "opening takes just one minute, closing only 30 seconds," allowing a single lock cycle to set a hundred ships in motion. The canal's launch not only adds a major export passage for the southwest but also establishes a two-way "economic artery" between China and ASEAN.

Goods from China's southwest can now reach ASEAN faster, while distinctive ASEAN products gain easier access to the vast Chinese market. The logistics generated by this new route will drive trade, which in turn will spur industrial growth. With the concentration of capital, technology, and talent, new cross-border investment and industrial collaboration projects are expected to emerge, fostering more efficient and deeply integrated regional supply and production chains.

What's even more promising is the Pinglu Canal's role as a gateway to global connectivity. To the south, it links rivers to the sea, significantly elevating the level of China-ASEAN regional cooperation. To the north, it connects with the Eurasian continent, linking China-ASEAN collaboration with the Belt and Road Initiative. This extension opens up new development prospects, benefiting ports and corridors along its entire route.

With the river surging forward in full vigor, the launch of the Pinglu Canal marks a new chapter in the southwest's march toward maritime strength, injecting powerful momentum into regional economic growth and high-level opening-up.