Nanning Customs - in Nanning city, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region - recently introduced 18 measures to optimize the business environment.

The focus was on the areas of improving cross-border trade and supporting the expansion of imports of high-quality agricultural food products from ASEAN countries, officials announced on Aug 17.

Guangxi, which lies on the border with Vietnam, is a major access point to the thriving ASEAN markets.

Officials said Guangxi would conduct risk assessments for quarantine access of high-quality agricultural food products from ASEAN countries.

Moreover, it will promote the expansion of newly approved products in the Chinese market and encourage diversification in agricultural food product imports.

At the same time, Guangxi will implement streamlined measures such as "release before inspection" for the imports of iron, chromium, manganese, zinc, lead and crude oil - supporting the expansion of energy and mineral product imports.

Guangxi will also advance the construction of smart border ports to enhance port operations efficiency, foster the development of cross-border consolidation markets for exported containerized goods in Chongzuo and Pingxiang - and ensure speedy clearances for fresh and perishable agricultural food products.

In the first seven months of the year, the value of total imports and exports in Guangxi hit 393.51 billion yuan ($54.18 million), for year-on-year growth of 34.4 percent.

In particular, imports and exports between Guangxi and ASEAN countries increased by 71.6 percent year-on-year.