The government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region held a press conference on April 28 in Nanning to elaborate on its "15th Five-Year Plan" for national economic and social development. The plan outlines a clear development trajectory for the region over the next five years, emphasizing high-quality growth measured by economic value, innovation, and environmental sustainability.
A key feature of the plan is its set of 25 primary indicators, which shift focus from sheer economic scale to qualitative metrics. These include the proportion of core digital economy industries in GDP, the share of manufacturing value-added, and the ratio of non-fossil fuel energy consumption. A new indicator tracking land use efficiency per unit of GDP has also been introduced to underscore the importance of developmental quality and benefits.
In terms of opening up, the plan introduces specific targets for logistics costs relative to regional GDP and growth in import-export volume with ASEAN countries. Officials highlighted Guangxi's unique geographical advantage as a coastal, riverine, and border region connecting the Greater Bay Area, Southwest China, and ASEAN nations. The strategy aims to deepen economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN, transforming this locational strength into a competitive edge.
Significant emphasis is placed on public welfare, with nearly one-third of the indicators dedicated to improving livelihoods. New targets include the proportion of nursing beds in elderly care institutions and higher goals for infant childcare enrollment rates and life expectancy, aiming to make healthcare more accessible, elderly care more secure, and childcare more affordable for residents.
Artificial intelligence is positioned as a cornerstone of the region's industrial strategy. Guangxi has charted a distinctive development path, integrating research from major hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou for application within Guangxi and ASEAN markets. A three-year "AI+" initiative has been launched, focusing on six key sectors. This includes major scientific projects for industrial upgrading, establishing embodied intelligence labs and testing grounds, and promoting AI-driven transformation in core industries such as steel and non-ferrous metals.
Substantial financial backing is committed, with plans to allocate 45 billion yuan starting from 2025 over three years to support AI-driven productive forces. The goals include building a high-standard Southern AI Center, cultivating over 50 leading enterprises, forming an AI industrial cluster, and developing iconic smart products and brands. The target is for Guangxi's core AI industry output value to exceed 200 billion yuan by the end of the "15th Five-Year" period.
International cooperation, particularly with ASEAN, is a priority. Initiatives include implementing a national AI capacity-building program, fostering collaborative education, establishing training bases, and organizing cultural exchanges. A China-ASEAN AI Ministerial Roundtable focused on ethics and safety is planned for 2026, alongside creating replicable AI application models for public welfare in ASEAN regions.
A pivotal project for Guangxi's marine economy strategy is the Pinglu Canal, scheduled to open in September. This will be the first major canal connecting inland rivers to the sea since the founding of the People's Republic of China. It will allow 5,000-ton vessels direct river-to-sea passage, shortening the current water transport route to the sea by approximately 560 kilometers. This route is projected to be the shortest and most convenient waterway from Guangxi, and even broader Southwestern and Central-Southern China, to ASEAN, with estimated annual transport cost savings of 5.2 billion yuan.
Leveraging this opportunity, Guangxi plans to optimize its marine economic layout during the "15th Five-Year" period. This involves steadfastly developing the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone, enhancing integrated planning for Beihai, Qinzhou, Fangchenggang, and Yulin, and high-level planning for the Pinglu Canal Economic Belt. The strategy aims to attract large-scale, import-export oriented industries to coastal areas and develop integrated port-industrial park-urban complexes.
Industrially, the focus will be on developing modern green chemicals, marine equipment manufacturing, metal new materials, and other port-suitable industries. New growth areas like marine new energy, marine pharmaceuticals, biological products, and marine tourism will be cultivated to build several 100-billion-yuan marine industrial clusters. Advance deployment for cargo organization will ensure efficient matching of supply with transport capacity and ports with industry, aiming to maximize the benefits of the Pinglu Canal as a "golden waterway" promptly.
The press conference also provided detailed interpretations on other topics, including the development of ten pillar manufacturing industries, ecological and environmental protection, cooperation with ASEAN, rural revitalization, business environment optimization, livelihood security, and fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.