Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region will step up efforts to deepen cooperation with ASEAN countries and contribute to building the China-ASEAN community of common destiny, said deputies to the National People's Congress from the region's delegation during an open panel discussion in Beijing on Thursday.

With a unique geographical advantage of being connected to both the land and sea of ASEAN countries, Guangxi serves as the forefront and window of our country's opening and cooperation with ASEAN countries, says Lan Tianli, an NPC deputy, who is also chairman of Guangxi.

He noted that for 25 consecutive years, ASEAN countries have remained Guangxi's largest trading partner. Last year, Guangxi's import and export trade with them reached 397.82 billion yuan ($ 54.9 billion), a 17.2 percent increase compared to the previous year. The region has also cooperated with ASEAN countries in the fields of chemical industry, new energy, materials, preliminarily establishing cross-border industrial and supply chain collaboration.

Moreover, Guangxi and ASEAN countries have engaged in cultural exchanges such as education, healthcare and tourism, building a family-like relationship. They have implemented a number of small-scale yet meaningful projects related to people's lives, says Lan.

For example, the China-Vietnam cross-border medical assistance mechanism has treated over 650 critically ill patients from ASEAN countries. Guangxi's assistance in eliminating blindness caused by cataract in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam has also restored sight to 16,000 patients.

"We increasingly feel that with the unique advantages of location and people-to-people exchanges, Guangxi will play a bigger role in building the China-ASEAN community of common destiny," says Lan.

NPC deputy Huang Zhiyu, head of Guangxi's Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, says Guangxi has applied digital technologies and intelligent products in farming, which has attracted the attention of ASEAN countries like Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Guangxi has cooperated with them in these areas as well.

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