For a long time, the Yangtze River and the Pearl River are not connected to each other, which seriously restricts the overall benefits of inland shipping. The Hunan Guangxi, Jiangxi Guangdong canal construction project has become the “artery” connecting the two rivers, which is a great project of great significance.
Recently, the Pearl River shipping administration of the Ministry of transport (hereinafter referred to as the “Pearl River shipping administration”) said at a press conference that the bureau is actively promoting the research on canal connectivity projects such as the Hunan Guangxi, Jiangxi Guangdong canals and the western land sea new channel (Pinglu) canal, and is expected to build a cross water system communication project connecting the Pearl River water system and the Yangtze River System in the future. At present, the preliminary work of the new western land sea channel (Pinglu) canal is progressing smoothly, and strive to start construction this year.
The construction of Hunan Guangxi, Jiangxi Guangdong canals helps “two rivers embrace each other”
The Yangtze River and pearl river systems are the two most developed water systems in China. How to connect the two water systems has always been a key topic. In the early stage, Guilin Lingqu realized the connection between the Yangtze River and the Pearl River for the first time, but it is still not suitable for large-scale freight demand. Therefore, the construction project of Hunan Guangxi, Jiangxi Guangdong canals is of great significance.
In November 2021, the “14th five year plan” for water transport development issued by the Ministry of transport mentioned to promote the preliminary research and demonstration of the Hunan Guangxi and Jiangxi Guangdong canals, and timely start the construction of sub segments of the Hunan Guangxi canal, such as the lower section of Pingle on the Guijiang river, the Yongzhou Hengyang section of the Xiangjiang River, and the upper section of Wan\’an hub on the Ganjiang River.
In February this year, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the outline of the national comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network planning, and the Hunan Guangxi, Jiangxi Guangdong canals were mentioned again. It is planned to include trans basin water transport channels such as Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Han, Hunan and Guangxi into the main skeleton layout of the national comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network.
Hu Gang, President of South China Urban Research Association and professor of Jinan University, said in an interview with the 21st Century Business Herald reporter that the country had the idea of connecting the two water systems of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River long ago. The two watersheds have different climates and different flood seasons. The connection of the two water systems will be conducive to the allocation of water resources and reduce flood disasters.
According to the introduction of Zhuhai Airlines Bureau, according to the special research and promotion work plan for key issues of Hunan Guangxi canal and Jiangxi Guangdong canal, the two grand canals plan to complete four aspects and 18 special research work, including development necessity, development feasibility, reasonable development plan, development mode and operation management, by the end of 2022. At present, the research on relevant topics of Hunan Guangxi canal and Jiangxi Guangdong canal is being actively promoted.
Hu Gang believes that water transportation is characterized by low cost and large transportation capacity. However, due to the slow transportation speed, it is often used for the transportation of timber, grain and other commodities. Through the construction of Hunan Guangxi, Jiangxi Guangdong canals, connecting the two major water systems of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River, and opening up the north-south water transport channel, it will promote the development of land sea intermodal transport and reduce the transportation cost of bulk commodities.
The Pinglu canal will start construction this year
As early as more than 100 years ago, Sun Yat Sen put forward the idea of building Pinglu canal in the general plan for the founding of the people’s Republic of China. Now, the new land sea channel (Pinglu) canal project in the west is about to be realized.
In November 2021, the government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region issued the “14th five year plan” for the development of comprehensive transportation in Guangxi, proposing to plan the construction of a new land sea channel (Pinglu) canal in the west, and accelerate the construction of a water transport channel connecting the Yangtze River, the Pearl River and the Beibu Gulf. Construction will start in 2022.
According to the plan, the total investment of Pinglu canal project is 68 billion yuan, which can connect the “golden waterway” and Beibu Gulf Port Co.Ltd(000582) mouth of Xijiang River, and is entrusted with the important task of connecting the river to the sea. After the completion of the canal, a new channel to the sea will be added to the inland river in Guangxi. The sea journey from the Beibu Gulf through the Pinglu canal in Nanning, the capital, is only 291 kilometers, which is 560 kilometers shorter than that from the Pearl River Delta.
According to the introduction of Zhuhai Airlines Bureau, the project of the new western land and sea channel (Pinglu) canal is a key task in the overall plan of the new western land and sea channel, the 14th five year plan for water transportation development and the 14th five year plan for Pearl River shipping development. After the completion of Pinglu canal, it will directly connect the “golden waterway” of Xijiang River and the harbor group of Beibu Gulf, and open up a new convenient and economic channel to the sea for Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou and the vast southwest, Central South and northwest regions.
Hu Gang said that in the outline of the 14th five year plan, it is proposed to promote the construction of a new land sea channel in the west, and the construction of a canal is one of the important tasks of building a new land sea channel. The underdeveloped transportation in Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan and other places limits the economic development, and the external transportation is an important factor in their economic development. By building the Pinglu canal, opening up a new land sea channel and relying on the China Europe train, it can drive the local import and export trade and promote economic development.
It is understood that in 2021, the project of the new western land sea channel (Pinglu) canal officially launched the project feasibility study on the basis of many previous investigations, studies and demonstrations. In accordance with the work deployment of the Ministry of transport, Zhuhai Airlines Bureau timely followed up the project progress, surveyed the canal route on site, and coordinated and promoted the preliminary work of Pinglu canal. At present, the preliminary work of the new western land sea channel (Pinglu) canal is progressing smoothly, and strive to start construction this year.
(source: 21st Century Business Herald)
