GUANGXI ZHUANG AUTONOMOUS REGION
General Background
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region - abbreviated as Gui
- is situated at the west of Guangdong
province on the coast of the Beibu
Gulf. Since Guangxi is the only western province
that has a coastline, it assumes a very important role in the Western
Region Development Program, especially as a major sea port for imports
and exports.
The population of ethnic minorities accounts for nearly
40% of its total population. Major
ethnic groups include the Zhuang, Yao,
Miao, Hui, Yi and Shui.
The region's capital is Nanning.
In 1985, most coastal counties and towns in Guangxi were designated
by the State as open regions to foreign investors and enjoyed favorable
economic policies. The open regions cover Liuzhou,
Guilin, Beihai, Wuzhou,
Fangcheng, Qinzhou, Guigang, Taipu, Cangwu and Yulin. In addition, the
State further opened two border cities, Pingxiang and Dongxing, in 1992.
Guangxi is rich in natural resources. With 96 kinds of mineral deposits found,
including the largest deposits of tin, manganese and Indium in the country,
the region has emerged as a major nonferrous metal production base.
Guangxi also has the largest reserve of lime. Besides, Guangxi is also
rich in timber and forestry resources.
With a sub-tropical climate and fertile soil, Guangxi
produces a large number of cash crops, including sugarcane, palm-oil
seeds, bananas, pineapple and rosin. Among them, output of sugarcane
and fruits is the largest in the country.
The Beibu Bay is one of the most important tropical fishing
grounds in China, abundant aquatic produces such as shrimp, shell fish,
squid, pearl, and oyster can be found along its 1,595 km-long coastal
line. Beihai and Hepu are Guangxi's major fishing ports which are favorable
for breeding seafood produces. Guangxi also produces some of the best
pearls in the world.
Infrastructure
Water Transport ⌒ Beihai, Qinzhou and Fangcheng are Guangxi's major ports with more than
23 berths for 10,000-tons vessels.
Inland river ports such as Nanning,
Wuzhou and Guigang are also significant in the region. Guangxi has plans to build eight new berths
for 10,000-ton ships in Beihai to increase its total handling capacity
to 20 million tons upon completion. Moreover, the No.9 and No.10 Berths
of the Fangcheng Port,
as well as the second-phase of the Xijiang Sailing Project are under
construction. By end-2000 Guangxi had more than 30 deep-water berths
with an annual handling capacity over 25 million tons. At present, it
takes about three days for vessels to sail from Fangcheng and Wuzhou
to Hong Kong.
Railways ⌒ Major railways in Guangxi
include Xianggui lineHunan-Guangxi, Qiangui lineGuizhou-Guangxi, Nankun lineNanning-Kunming, Lizhan lineLitang-Zhanjiang, Zhiliu linePanzhihua-Liuzhou, Jiaoliu lineJiaozuo-Liuzhou, Qinbei lineQinzhou-Beihaiand Liqin lineLitang-Qinzhou. Moreover, the three major
ports in the region are connected by the Nanning-Fangcheng line and
the Qinzhou- Beihai line.
Highways ⌒ Nanning, Liuzhou and Guilin
are the land transportation hubs in Guangxi. Major expressways crossing
Guangxi include the Guilin-Beihai Expressway, include the Liugui ExpresswayLiuzhou-Guilin, Nanliu ExpresswayNanning-Liuzhou, Liangjiang ExpresswayGuilin's Downtown-Guilin's Liangjiang International Airport. New expressways, including
Liuzhai-Jingcheng-Nanning Expressway and Nanning-Beihai Expressway,
Nanning-Wuzhou Highways and Nanning-Pingguo Highways, Shuiren- Nanning
Expressway are under construction or being planned.
Recently, the region has opened a transport route for
passenger linking Pingxiang port with Lang Son in Vietnam. The opening of the transport route will
help boost Sino-Vietnamese border trade and tourism. Besides, Guangxi also plans to open a water-land transport
route for passenger from Nanning
to Vinh Ha Long in Vietnam.
To cope with the Western Region Development Strategy,
the Guangxi government will expedite construction of highways within
the region that forms an integral part of the Southwest Sea Passage
Expressway. The government is expecting that within 5 years, the frame
of the Southwest Sea Passage Expressway should be compeleted, making
it the most convenient passage for the Southwestern provinces including
Chongqing and Sichuan
to access the sea.
Air Transport ⌒ 5 airports are located in Guilin, Nanning, Liuzhou, Beihai and Wuzhou.
The Guilin Liangjiang
International Airport
which opened to traffic in May 1997 offers direct flights to both domestic
and international destinations. The airport has opened two international
air routes - Fukuoka in
Japan
and Seoul. Guangxi now offers more than 100 domestic
and international air routes.
Telecommunications ⌒The region has invested heavily in telecommunication in recent decade.
By 1999, mobile phone subscribers in Guangxi reached 746 thousand
and the popularization rate was 1.6 mobile phones for every 100 persons.
Electricity ⌒ By end-2000, Guangxi had an
installed power-generating capacity of 28.3 billion kWh. Construction of Longtan Hydropower
Plant on Hongshui River
is well on its way. The plant will have an installed generating capacity
of 4.2 million kWh upon completion and for long term, it will have 5.4
million kWh. This big project
will be second only after the Three Gorges Water Control Project on
the Yangtze River in terms of installed generating
capacity. The constructions of the Qinzhou natural gas power plant and
Baise hydro power plant are also well underway.
Industries
In 2000, Guangxi's industrial output reached Rmb99.3
billion and industries are mainly located in Liuzhou,
Nanning, Wuzhou, Guilin
and Beihai. Pillar industries
in the region include sugarcane and food processing, nonferrous metal,
automobiles and machinery. Guangxi has the countryˇs largest aluminum
production base, the Pingguo Aluminum Manufacture, which is also the
largest in Asia . Guangxi is the largest sugarcane
production base in China. Total outputs of sugarcane accounted for
39% of the country's total reaching 32.2 million tons in 1999.
Machinery industry is significant in Guangxi. It comprises automobiles, heavy mining
machinery, electrical & electronics, instruments & apparatus,
standard parts and components, packing machinery, metal components,
agricultural machinery, shipbuilding machinery, craning machinery. The
Liuzhou Engineering Machine Shareholding Company is the largest engineering
machine producer in China.
Guangxi Yuchai Machine Shareholding Company manufactures the largest
number of internal combustion engines. The province also has a strong
chemical industry. It is the largest turpentine producer in China.
Guangxiˇs light industry is also well developed. Liuzhou
Cement Factory is the largest cement producer in China
(China
is the largest cement producer in the world).
In recent years, Guangxi has successfully promoted many
brandnames including Liuzhou's
"Wuling Light Automobiles", Liuzhou's
"Heimei" (Black-Girl) Toothpaste and Guilin's
"Xiangshan" Lychee.
Tourism
The beautiful landscapes and colorful ethnic culture
make Guangxi one of China's
well-known tourist spots. There are more than 3 state-level scenic spots
and 7 state-level historical & cultured protection units in Guangxi.
The "Lijiang Scenes" in Guilin
and numerous underground grottoes in both Guilin
and Liuzhou are the most
famous attractions. Guangxi also has the Beihai
Silver Beach,
which is the most beautiful beach in China.
Other major tourists attractions include the Ethnic Minority Culture
and Tradition Observations, the Sino-Vietnam border, Ling Qu, Qingan
National Forest Reserve.
Tourism has become one of the most important tertiary
industries in Guangxi. In
2000, about 1.23 million tourists, including 0.51 million foreigners
(+35.1%) visited the region (+59.5%) and generated revenue of US$307
million (+29%).
Consumer Market
Retail sales of consumer goods in Guangxi rose by 8.6%
to Rmb85.9 billion in 2000. Major
consumer centres are located at Nanning
and Liuzhou, accounting
for 17% and 9% of the region's total.
Major department stores and shopping centres in Guangxi
include Nanning Department Store, Guangxi
Business Tower,
Nanning Trade Market, Nanning
Heping Business
Center, Nanning
Minzu Business
Center, The Liuzhou Zhongtang
Shareholding Corp. Ltd., Guilin Department Store Shareholding Corp.
Ltd., Liuzhou Baixin Shareholding Corp. Ltd., Liuzhou Industrial &
Commerce Building Shareholding Corp. Ltd.and Nanning Nanfang Building.
Science and Technology
Guangxi leads China
in several key research areas. One of them is agriculture technology.
In 2000, it has completed the first gene bank for aniseed and golden
camellia. It has also made breakthroughs in curing animal septemia.
Foreign Trade
Guangxi's exports totalled US$1.6 billion in 2000 (+34.4%)
and US$340 million was handled by foreign-invested enterprises. Major export goods were garments, food,
cement, textiles, electronic components and building materials. Major export markets included Hong
Kong, Vietnam,
the US,
Japan
and the Netherlands.
Imports remained basically unchanged in 2000, totaled
about US$700 million. Major
import goods included fertilizer, diesel and crude oil, chemical raw
materials, steel products, etc.
Import sources mainly came from Hong Kong,
Vietnam, Japan,
the US
and Germany.
Hong Kong was Guangxi's
2nd largest trading partner, accounting for about 20% (238 million)
and 2% (14.2million) of the region's exports and imports respectively. The largest trading partner, however,
was Vietnam,
accounting for 18% (218.1 million) and 6.6% (46.2 million) of the region's
total.
More than 10 sites along the Sino-Vietnam border have
been opened for border trade such as Pingxiang, Dongxing, Shuikou, etc. Major exports were
building materials, pesticides, bicycles, electric fans, sewing machines,
machinery, beer, textiles and thermos bottles whereas major import goods
included fruits, lumber, marine products rubber and minerals.
Foreign Investment
In 2000, the actual utilized amount of foreign investment
declined by 17.4% to US$525 million.
Foreign direct investments mainly involved in real estate,
energy, infrastructure construction and export-oriented manufacturing
projects. Besides, foreign
investments are also encouraged to invest in the sectors of primary
industries, hi-tech industries, building materials, agriculture comprehensive
development projects and technology upgrade of existing manufacturing
enterprises.
Hong Kong is the largest
source of foreign investment in Guangxi.
By-end 1999, contracted foreign investment from Hong
Kong amounted to US$270 million. Hong Kong
also has the biggest number of enterprises in Guangxi, with 2728 total.
Other major investors included Taiwan,
the US,
and Canada. Most foreign investments were located
around Guilin, Nanning,
Wuzhou, Liuzhou and Fangchenggang.
Liuzhou, the
major industrial city in Guangxi, approved 336 foreign-invested projects
and attracted foreign capital of US$25.8 million in 1999. These projects were mainly in the sectors of infrastructure,
environmental protection, agriculture and tourism. In coming years, the city will more concentrate on the development
of hi- and new-tech electronic and mechanical projects.
Nanning is another
major industrial cities in Guangxi. It approved 432 foreign-invested projects in 1999 with actual
investment of US$97.8 million. For Guilin,
it had approved more than 524 overseas-funded projects with investment
of US$107 million in 1999. The
city aims to improve its infrastructure, public amenities at scenic
sites, etc. in coming years.
Guangxi is included in the Western Region Development
Strategy since 2000. To
boost the development of the central and western regions in China, the
State Council has granted national treatment and further tax incentives
to foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) in China.
Under the existing policy, FIEs are entitled to a three-year
tax reduction and exemption. The
new policy allows foreign-invested enterprises in the central and western
regions to enjoy another three years of preferential tax rate when the
existing preferential tax period expires.
The tax rate can be further reduced to 10% if an enterprise is
proved to export more than 70% of its annual output in terms of value.
Economic Indicators of Major
Cities (1999)
|
|
Population
|
GDP
|
Industrial Output
|
Retail Sales
|
Utilized FDI
|
|
Cities
|
('000)
|
(RMB bn)
|
(RMB bn)
|
(RMB bn)
|
(US$ mn)
|
|
Nanning
|
2,859 (+0.5%)
|
|
18.7 (+2.7%)
|
|
|
|
Liuzhou
|
1,804 (+0.7%)
|
17.5 (+5.4%)
|
27.1 (+1.8%)
|
6.6 (+4.7%)
|
25.8 (-12.5%)
|
|
Qinzhou
|
3,148 (+1.1%)
|
12.8 (+7.5%)
|
6.2 (-1.5%)
|
4.9 (+8.9%)
|
8.7 (-72.9%)
|
|
Wuzhou
|
2,707 (-2.6%)
|
11.6 (+2.5%)
|
11.4 (+1.8%)
|
5.2 (+8.3%)
|
45.1 (-27.1%)
|
|
Guilin
|
4,792(+32.4%)
|
27.6 (+165%)
|
22.2 (+91.3%
|
10.4 (+108%)
|
107.0 (-11.5%)
|
|
Beihai
|
139.5 (+1.2%)
|
10.8 (+3.8%)
|
8.8 (+1.1%)
|
3.1 (+6.9%)
|
43.4 (+58.9%)
|
|
Fangchenggang
|
771 (+1.3%)
|
5.5 (+5.7%)
|
3.9 (+5.4%)
|
1.9 (+5.6%)
|
8.7 (-66.7%)
|
Note: Figures in ( ) represent year-on-year growth
Source: Statistical Yearbook of Guangxi, 1999
Major Economic & Technological
Development Zones (ETDZ)
There were two state-level hi- & new-tech development
zones, one state-level holiday resort zone, and two border-trade economic
development zones, as well as 29 provincial-level ETDZs in Guangxi :
1.
Nanning Hi- & New-Tech Industrial Development Zone,
located in the suburb of Nanning city, was approved by the State Council
in December 1992 to develop capital-intensive and high value-added technologies.
Foreign investments are encouraged to develop biology engineering,
new building materials and information technology.
2.
Guilin Hi- & New-tech Industrial Development Zone,
was the first State-level hi- and new-tech industrial development zone
among Guangxi and the four other autonomous regions. The zone's actual utilized foreign investment has exceeded
US$56.6 million since 1995 and attracted famous enterprises such as
NEC from Japan and Nokia from Finland to invest in the zone.
3.
Beihai Silver Beach Tourist Holiday Zone, was approved
by the State Council in October 1992 as one of the 11 state-level vacation
and tourism development zones.
A large number of holiday facilities were completed and attracted
thousands of both domestic and overseas visitors.
In 1998, Beihai's tourism sector recorded total revenue of US$81
million, an increase of 16% over 1997
4.
Huning Seaboard Economic Corridor Development Zone, Established
in June 8th, 1993, the zone is located between Nanning and
Qinzhou, and soon became a significant part of the Nanning- Qinzhou
economic zone. It has very convenient transportation. It is growing
rapidly since its establishment.
5.
Pingxiang Border Trade Development Zone, covering an
area of 7.2 sq.km, was approved by the State Council in September 1992
to develop border trade with Vietnam.
6.
Wuzhou Export Goods Processing AreaEstablished
on Sept 26, 1991, the Area is designed to development hi-tech export
goods, as well as automobile components, assembling, electronics, etc.
7.
Dongxing Border Trade Development Zone, covering an area
of 4.01 sq.km, was approved by the State Council in September 1992 to
develop border trade with Vietnam.
Other economic zones in the region include :
1.
Nanning Oversea Chinese
Investment Zone
2.
Nanning Economic & Technological Development Zone
3.
Jingdao Development Zone
4.
Nanning Dashatian Economic Development Zone
5.
Guilin
Oversea Chinese Tourism Zone
6.
Guilin
Balijie Economic and Technology Development Zone
7.
Guiling Xicheng Economic Development
Zone
8.
Qinzhou Port Economic Development
Zone
9.
Yizhou Chengxi Economic Development
Zone
10.
Liuzhou Area Gutingshan Development
Zone
Economic Indicators
|
|
1999
|
2000
|
|
Economic Indicators
|
Value
|
Growth
|
Value
|
Growth
|
|
|
|
(%, y-o-y)
|
|
(%, y-o-y)
|
|
Area (sq km)
|
236,661
|
--
|
236,661
|
--
|
|
Population (mn)
|
47.1
|
0.8
|
44.9 ^
|
-4.8
|
|
Gross Domestic Product (RMB bn)
|
195.3
|
7.7 *
|
203.6
|
7.2 *
|
|
Per Capita GDP (RMB)
|
4,148
|
1.8
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Disposable Income Per Capita
|
|
|
|
|
|
- urban
(RMB)
|
5,619.5
|
3.8
|
5,834.4
|
3.8
|
|
- rural
(RMB)
|
2,048.3
|
3.9
|
1,864.5
|
-9.0
|
|
Fixed-assets Investment (RMB bn)
|
57.9
|
2.9
|
66.0
|
14.0
|
|
Added Value Output
|
|
|
|
|
|
- primary
industry (RMB bn)
|
55.4
|
-3.4
|
53.7
|
-3.2
|
|
- secondary
industry (RMB bn)
|
69.6
|
2.6
|
74.2
|
6.6
|
|
- tertiary
industry (RMB bn)
|
70.3
|
8.0
|
75.7
|
7.7
|
|
Retail Sales (RMB bn)
|
79.1
|
7.8
|
85.9
|
8.6
|
|
Inflation (Consumer Price Index, %)
|
-2.3
|
|
-0.3
|
|
|
Exports (US$ bn)
|
1.2
|
-23.8
|
1.6
|
34.4
|
|
- by
FIEs (US$ bn)
|
0.2
|
-31.3
|
0.3
|
54.5
|
|
Imports (US$ bn)
|
0.7
|
-17.7
|
0.7
|
0
|
|
- by
FIEs (US$ bn)
|
0.3
|
-33.3
|
0.2
|
-19.2
|
|
Foreign Direct Investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
- number
of projects
|
223
|
-16.2
|
246
|
10.3
|
|
- contracted
amount (US$ bn)
|
0.67
|
4.9
|
0.71
|
5.4
|
|
- utilized
amount (US$ bn)
|
0.64
|
-28.3
|
0.52
|
-17.4
|
Notes: *In Renminbi real terms
^ Latest full population census figure, 1999 figure was
estimation based on previous census.
Sources: China
Statistical Abstract, 2001, CEIC database
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