Guangxi economic corridor expects Brunei growth spurt

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Qinzhou port is the largest container distribution hub in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Guangxi also has the closest harbor to Southeast Asia. With its geographic advantages and favorable policies in international maritime cooperation, Guangxi has already created more opportunities at home and abroad, and Brunei is one of the beneficiaries.

“Business is growing year by year. This year, the total number of standard containers that Qinzhou handled is expected to reach 2.3 million, 400,000 are shipped to Southeast Asia,” said Ye Qinming, deputy manager at the operation department of the port.

A busy day at the Qinzhou port, in the south most tip of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. /CGTN Photo

Among them, a large portion - including daily necessities and building materials - will transfer to Brunei. In 2017, bilateral trade between China and Brunei reached nearly one billion US dollars, growing 36.5 percent compared to that of 2016. As of the end of September this year, trade volume exceeded 1.3 billion US dollars with an 88.7 percent surge.

China and Brunei have exchanged goods since as early as the Western Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago. Now centuries later, freighters are continuing their voyage across the seas, and for the two ancient trading partners, modern maritime technology is promoting cooperation like never before.

Workers load cargos onto a 30,000-ton freighter docking at the Qinzhou port. /CGTN Photo

In 2014, Guangxi signed a memorandum with Brunei to build an economic corridor. The co-development of the Muara port is one of the major steps.

“Since we began working on the Muara port in 2017, we've upgraded its infrastructure and improved the management. The port has seen a steady growth in cargo handling capacity and work efficiency,” said Zhou Yan, general manager of Beibu Gulf Port Qinzhou Wharves, who is also the former head of the program. He added, "the two sides also agreed to build the port into a transit hub in the region.”

Muara port has handled over 93,300 standard containers as of the end of October, a 6.6 percent growth compared to the same period last year. It has also created at least 150 job positions for locals.

A freighter docks at the Maura port in Brunei. / Photo courtesy of Zhou Yan

Zhou told CGTN that helping Brunei modernize its only deep-water port, which was built in the 70's, is only the first step. The next is to diversity the nation's industries and reduce its dependence on oil revenues.

As a country heavily reliant on oil and natural gas exports, the Brunei government has issued a long term plan to transform and diversify its economies by 2035. The nation has responded warmly to the Belt and Road Initiative, saying that it is highly consistent with Brunei Vision 2035. The two sides have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a synergy and explore cooperation and more common goals.

“There is a lot that can be done under the Belt and Road Initiative and the framework of the economic corridor. We will build industrial parks near the port, which will help Brunei diversify its economy and emerging industries,” Zhou added, “This will also improve the country's competitiveness in the region with more advanced ideas and management concepts.”

Zhou says that he has confidence in the two countries' future ties, adding that Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Brunei is expected to inject new impetus to bilateral ties.

"I think President Xi's visit to Brunei can be a great opportunity for the country to enhance trade with China. We would also like to establish a direct route between China and Brunei as soon as possible to achieve more win-win results.”

Ahead of President Xi's visit to Brunei, several local newspapers published a signed article by President Xi. He said that with mutual trust and common development, China and Brunei will turn a new chapter in bilateral ties.