GUANGXI which is keen to build itself as a hub for Sino-ASEAN trade is now a distributing centre for the commodity trades between the two regions China and ASEAN. The cargo volume through Guangxi to ASEAN markets increased from 3.51 million tonnes in 2003 to 17.24 million tonnes in 2008, seeing a year-on-year increase of 37.5 per cent reported the Hong Kong Commercial Daily.

Fruits are one of the major trade items between China and ASEAN nations. In 2008, ASEAN's fruit imported to China was 853,000 tonnes, accounting for 29.5 per cent of the total fruit's export volume from ASEAN region to China.

Meanwhile, major products exported from China to ASEAN region at the same period included automobiles, clothing, fertilisers and steel. Major products that China imported from ASEAN countries were coal, iron ore, palm oil and versatile refined oil products.