The Foreign Affairs Commission of the Party Committee of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region held a meeting on March 3 to study and deploy the work arrangement in 2020, striving to promote the higher level of opening-up of the region.

Lu Xinshe, Party secretary of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, noted this year's key tasks of the Foreign Affairs Commission at the meeting.

The region will promote the development of open platforms, such as the western Land-Sea Trade Corridor, the China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the financial gateway for ASEAN, the China-ASEAN Information Port, and the Fangchenggang International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone.

It will make use of its geographical advantages to build a new pattern of all-round opening-up development and cooperation with ASEAN countries, Belt and Road cities, as well as cities in Southwest China to achieve more practical results in service development.

Guangxi will focus on ASEAN countries, the Belt and Road construction, as well as connections with developed economies all over the world. It will also enhance the cooperation with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and strengthen communication with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and relevant member states to expand exchanges with developed economies in Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea.

In addition, the commission will make efforts to organize a number of important foreign exchange events, such as the 17th China-ASEAN Expo and the 11th Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum.

Lu also stressed that close attention should be paid to the development of the novel coronavirus epidemic, as well as the overall status of epidemic prevention and control efforts to ensure the safety of foreign exchange activities. Safeguarding epidemic prevention and control services for foreigners in Guangxi will be provided, while joint prevention and control of epidemic situations at borders will be strengthened.

Guangxi will also reopen trains of the western Land-Sea Trade Corridor and container routes of the Beibu Gulf as soon as possible, optimize its business environment, as well as improve the leadership mechanism for foreign affairs.