The Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region issued Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Seaward Economy and Promoting the Construction of a Powerful Region of Marine Economy to boost coordinated development of the land-sea economy and build a modern marine industrial system.

A seaward economy, which relies on the connectivity of port areas and supporting facilities in port-based industrial parks, seeks to develop industries based on ocean resources, such as marine heavy industries and deep-sea fish farms.

The main targets are clarified in the document. By 2022, a preliminary modern marine industry system will have been formed, and the total economic seaward economy output value will should have reached 460 billion yuan ($66.36 billion), accounting for 20 percent of the total regional GDP. By 2025, the seaward economy will achieve leapfrog development, with a total economic output value of 700 billion yuan, accounting for 25 percent of the total regional GDP. By 2035, Guangxi will basically become a powerful marine economy region, and the total economic output value of the seaward economy will reach more than 1.3 trillion yuan, accounting for more than 35 percent of the total regional GDP.

The document stressed that Guangxi should coordinate the common development along the coast and the border, as well as promote seaward development of its inland areas.

Guangxi will accelerate the improvement of the modern industrial system, strengthen the comprehensive development and utilization of marine resources, build a green coastal industrial system, improve the quality and efficiency of traditional marine industries, cultivate new marine industries, and vigorously develop modern marine services.

The region intends to be a gateway port to the Western New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, establish a seaward economy platform connected to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promote the construction of the Guangxi pilot free trade zone, and strengthen cooperation with countries and regions along the Belt and Road.

It will promote land-sea collaborative scientific and technological innovation and emerge as a marine scientific and technological talent cluster. It will use the land-sea control mechanism to strengthen marine ecological protection and restoration, and enhance marine monitoring, forecasting, and disaster reduction capabilities. In addition, Guangxi will also develop marine cultural tourism with local characteristics.