China has opened the Pinglu canal, a 134.2 kilometre waterway that took more than four years to build, cutting through mountains and rivers in the country's southwest to create a direct link to the sea, according to a report by PTI. The canal connects Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with the Beibu Gulf, giving the region a much shorter route for trade with Southeast Asia.
Built at a cost of 72.7 billion yuan, or about USD 10.75 billion, the canal is part of the New International Land Sea Trade Corridor, a route meant to link China's inland provinces with ASEAN and other global markets.
