The Beilun River is narrow. On one bank lies Dongxing in Guangxi; on the opposite shore sits Mong Cai in Vietnam. This border river has witnessed both the flames of war and the tides of commerce. A century ago, it served as a vital lifeline during times of crisis. Today, it stands as China's forward position for opening up to ASEAN. On September 15th, the "Roots of China - The Light of the Canal" online themed publicity media group journeyed to Nanning and Dongxing, tracing this path to gain firsthand insights into this southwestern frontier.
Guangxi's opening-up first gains traction in the digital realm. The China-ASEAN Information Harbor, a national-level platform, has been incorporated into four major national development plans. Its mission is straightforward: to connect data, technology, and industry between China and ASEAN. The platform is tackling questions like how cross-border data should flow, how minority languages can be translated effectively, and how traditional factories can migrate to the cloud. A regional big data trading and credit service system is being established, while artificial intelligence and cloud computing capabilities have already been exported to ASEAN nations. Digital cooperation has become the most dynamic sector of Guangxi's engagement with ASEAN.
In Nanning, another tangible window to the outside world exists – the China-ASEAN Commodity Gathering Center. Its model is simple: building a digital platform online and offering immersive exhibition halls offline. The goal is six words - never closing, 365 days a year. The park features 18 themed pavilions, covering all eleven ASEAN nations, RCEP members, and countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. The cultural landscapes and key industries of various nations are brought under one roof. Thousands of cross-border products are already available. Hundreds of online and offline economic, trade, and cultural events have been held. Supporting services like cross-border consultation, resource matching, and brand empowerment are evolving alongside. The China-ASEAN Expo lasts only a few days each year, but this center aims to spread that momentum across every single day.
The true catalyst for changing Guangxi's opening-up landscape is water. The Pinglu Canal is a core project of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor. It addresses a long-standing issue: Guangxi's waterways connected to rivers but not the sea. Once operational, the canal will provide the shortest and most economical river-sea intermodal route from Southwest China to ASEAN. Voyage distances will shrink, and costs will drop. Goods from the southwestern hinterland to ASEAN markets will flow more smoothly. Bulk agricultural products and industrial materials stand to benefit directly. This three-dimensional transport system of river-sea linkage and multimodal transport complements the digital silk road, port passages, and trade platforms. Only when the hardware is in place can the integration of industrial chains be substantively discussed.
The story of Dongxing begins with a family letter. After the outbreak of the Pacific War, all coastal channels of communication in China were blocked. Dongxing, located on the China-Vietnam border, became a rare hub for external communication. A secret overseas Chinese remittance channel was thus established, connecting Southeast Asia with the mainland. What are these remittances? They are letters sent home by overseas Chinese, accompanied by money to support their families. A thin piece of paper, linking livelihoods and longing. This winding cross-border lifeline sustained the lives of families back home while continuously transporting overseas aid materials to China. It provided solid support for the eventual victory in the War of Resistance. Today, the Dongxing Remittance Museum houses over a hundred pieces of historical materials and artifacts. The spirit of integrity, perseverance, and national unity embedded in these letters remains etched in this border town.
At the national gateway, National Flag Street, the No.5 Boundary Marker, and the Ho Chi Minh Pavilion trace Dongxing's century-old border history. For over twenty years, merchants at the Dongxing Port have voluntarily displayed the five-starred red flag. The kilometer-long street, draped in fluttering flags, has become a unique border spectacle. The streets, blending diverse architectural styles, are lined with shops and bustling with life. The century-old No.5 Boundary Marker records the history of modern border demarcation, while the Ho Chi Minh Pavilion holds memories of traditional Sino-Vietnamese exchanges. The port itself has undergone massive transformation. The Beilun River Second Bridge, a key passage co-built by China and Vietnam, has significantly eased congestion since opening. The port has received approval for supervisory qualifications for several special commodities. In 2024, Dongxing Port was recognized as one of China's first "International Health Land Ports." Cargo volumes and vehicle traffic have grown steadily. Smart port projects are accelerating, with digital and intelligent supervision making customs clearance faster. From a wartime lifeline to today's smart port, Dongxing has achieved this transformation in less than a century.
A border river can separate two countries, but it cannot separate a shared history of interaction. The overseas remittance letters of a century ago spoke of "letters from home worth their weight in gold"; today's digital silk road conveys the message of a "shared future." What defines China? Perhaps the answer lies within this very land – what changes is the path, but what remains constant is a nation's gaze, always directed towards the sea, always reaching outward.