China Opens New Canal to Boost Inland Access to Southeast Asian Trade
China has officially opened the Pinglu Canal, creating a shorter maritime route from its southwestern inland regions to the Gulf of Tonkin. The new waterway is expected to reduce transportation distances and strengthen trade connections between China and Southeast Asia. The 134.2-kilometre Pinglu Canal connects Nanning in Guangxi with the Gulf of Tonkin, allowing inland cargo to avoid a roughly 560-kilometre detour via Guangzhou. Two freight routes have already started, including a new international connection between Nanning and Can Tho in Vietnam. From a logistics network perspective, the canal provides inland businesses with faster access to global sea lanes, while creating new opportunities for more efficient China–ASEAN cargo movement.
China Strengthens Hong Kong Connectivity with New High-Speed Rail Link
A new railway connection is set to improve access between Hong Kong, Beijing, and central China, supporting closer economic ties across the country. The development highlights the growing importance of integrated transport infrastructure in connecting major business and logistics centres. The latest Beijing–Xiongan railway section is expected to complete a missing link in the 2,370-kilometre Beijing–Hong Kong high-speed route, with the wider network planned to be fully interconnected by 2027. From a logistics network perspective, the expansion could improve access to inland markets, strengthen connections between southern and central China, and support more efficient movement of people and goods across the country.
Hacis Broadens Vietnam–Hong Kong Cargo Connectivity
Hacis, the logistics arm of Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals, is expanding its cross-border network to Vietnam, creating another link between Vietnamese shippers, mainland China, and Hong Kong’s international air cargo network. The move adds a multimodal option for businesses looking beyond conventional sea and air freight routes.The new service uses road transport from Vietnam to Wuzhou in China, followed by a customs-bonded road connection to Hong Kong. Developed with U&I Logistics Corporation, the solution is expected to provide Vietnamese businesses with more routing flexibility while bringing additional cargo flows through Hong Kong International Airport. From a logistics network perspective, the expansion shows how combining road and air connectivity can create alternative trade routes and strengthen links between regional markets.