Silver Beach in Beihai, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, is popular with both foreign and domestic tourists because of its pleasant environment.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Region is playing important role in China's overseas trade cooperation strategy, Hao Nan reports.

Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has become an important gateway in China's opening up strategy and trade cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, thanks to a number of development opportunities created during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-15).

In 2011, for example, plans were discussed to develop the region as a role model of cooperation between China and ASEAN. In 2013, the State Council approved construction of a comprehensive border financial reform pilot zone in the region, and in 2014, development of the Pearl River-Xijiang River Economic Belt was upgraded to a national strategy.

In March 2015, President Xi Jinping said that to strategically reposition itself and aid its future development, Guangxi should become an international pathway to ASEAN countries, a new strategic pivot in Southwest and Central China's opening up strategy, and a dynamic portal connecting the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and the Silk Road Economic Belt.

The local government has taken a number of steps to realize these goals.

In 2015, it upgraded the Beibu Gulf economic area, carrying out 256 major projects in the fields of infrastructure construction, industry transformation and port logistics.