The first expressway between China and ASEAN (Association of
Southeast Asian Nations) opened to traffic on Wednesday.
The 179.2-kilometer-long expressway starts from Nanning, capital
of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and leads to
Vietnam's Friendship Pass. It is an important part of China's
national highway network, said Guo Shengkun, vice-chairman of
Guangxi regional government.
With an investment of 3.7 billion yuan (US$456 million), the
eight-lane expressway is currently the most convenient overland
passage linking China with the ASEAN.
The expressway shortens the traveling time between Nanning and
the Sino-Vietnamese border to less than two hours, half of what is
required in the past, and it also takes five hours from Nanning to
Hanoi, the official said.
The expressway will be conducive to expanding the trade scale
between China and ASEAN countries and promoting the formation of
the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.
(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2005)