Five provincial party newspapers have launched a joint special report titled "Toward the Sea," focusing on the Western Land-Sea Corridor, a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative. This corridor serves as a major logistics and economic artery, connecting the Silk Road Economic Belt in the north with the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in the south, while also linking with the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The report highlights efforts by various provinces and regions to advance the new chapter of western development in the new era.
In Gansu, the province is actively promoting the construction of the Western Land-Sea Corridor. Since the establishment of the Western Land-Sea Corridor Operation Gansu Co., Ltd. in 2019, the company has facilitated effective connectivity between the corridor and the China-Europe Railway Express in Gansu, expanding trade routes with Central Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. By the end of January 2026, the company had launched over ten international freight train routes, dispatching more than 600 trains. The range of traded goods has expanded from aluminum products and fruits to include asbestos, onions, seeds, barley, and tapioca starch, among others. Company Chairman Xu Yafeng stated that developing the maritime economy and advancing land-sea coordination have brought Gansu closer to the world.
In Guangxi, construction is in full swing on the Pinglu Canal, a key project of the Western Land-Sea Corridor. As of now, over 90% of the project's investment, earthwork excavation, and concrete pouring have been completed, with 91.6% of the canal channel basically formed. Upon completion, the canal will shorten the shipping distance by 560 kilometers and reduce transportation costs by more than 30%, significantly reshaping the logistics landscape of Southwest China and enhancing Guangxi's role as a core hub connecting the inland southwest with ASEAN markets.
In Chongqing, an innovative logistics product called the "ASEAN Express" has been introduced. This service, developed through a strategic partnership between Yuxinou (Chongqing) Logistics Co., Ltd. and the Western Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co., Ltd., offers a seamless, integrated logistics solution from ASEAN through Chongqing to Europe and Central Asia. By the end of 2025, the cumulative freight value of the ASEAN Express had reached nearly 3.5 billion yuan, covering goods such as high-end manufacturing equipment, medical devices, and consumer products, effectively linking the EU, China, and ASEAN.
In Guizhou, the Guiyang International Land Port has been upgraded into a significant open platform. The port has established 22 domestic and 24 international transport routes, connecting 22 countries and regions. Its multi-modal transport product, "Qian Chain Express," reaches 580 regions across 148 countries. The port has reduced transport cycles to about seven days and cut comprehensive logistics costs by over 40%, providing a high-speed green channel for "Guizhou-made" products to access international markets.
In Hainan, the Yangpu International Container Terminal is undergoing expansion and efficiency improvements. The terminal's operational shoreline now stretches 1,970 meters, capable of accommodating the world's largest 24,000-TEU container ships. The terminal has also introduced remote control technology, achieving semi-automated operations and significantly enhancing logistics efficiency. As a key hub for the Hainan Free Trade Port, Yangpu Port is strengthening its role in connecting with global markets.
National Committee member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and President of the Gansu Logistics Industry Association, Yue Jianwu, proposed accelerating the development of Gansu as a northern hub for the Western Land-Sea Corridor. He suggested enhancing hub capacity, improving customs efficiency, strengthening channel-related industries, deepening regional coordination, and reinforcing factor support to promote high-level openness.
NPC Deputy and Vice President of Beibu Gulf University, Yin Yanzhen, recommended leveraging university expertise to support the Pinglu Canal project. Proposals included integrating the canal's smart navigation system into national smart transportation plans, promoting ecological protection technologies, and developing an industrial demonstration zone for the maritime economy to inject new momentum into Guangxi's marine-oriented development.
NPC Deputy and President (Founder) of Seres Group, Zhang Xinghai, emphasized the importance of utilizing the Western Land-Sea Corridor to boost the export of Chongqing-made vehicles. He noted that the corridor's integrated rail-sea transport model has reduced transit times by 10-15% and costs by over 8%, effectively breaking bottlenecks for vehicle exports.
NPC Deputy and Vice President of Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Zhao Ziyi, stated that Guizhou is integrating into the Western Land-Sea Corridor to build major channels, logistics networks, platforms, and hubs. The Guiyang International Land Port has achieved multi-directional linkage between China-Europe trains and corridor trains, helping the inland province open a window to the global market.
NPC Deputy and Deputy Party Secretary of Xuelan Village in Baimajing Town, Danzhou City, Hainan Province, Wu Shaoyu, suggested further enhancing the capacity of Yangpu Port, deepening institutional innovation, and expanding domestic and international networks to strengthen the port's role as an international shipping hub for the Western Land-Sea Corridor.
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