Southwest China's Yunnan Province is increasing cooperation with Myanmar to develop a road-water transportation line for more efficient trade.
The province and the country expect a portage to be completed in the near future between a road in the province and the waterway of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar.
The 2150-km river originates on the Tibet Plateau and flows through Yunnan and Myanmar and empties into the Indian Ocean.
Through the waterway, China now exports building materials, machinery and electronic products, textile products and garlic, and imports marine products, peanuts, rice and timber.
A survey shows that the shipping distance and time for exports from southwest China will be cut by 3000 km and one week respectively, compared with the traditional shipping line via the Malacca Straits in Southeast Asia.
The province is upgrading the highway connecting Kunming, capital of Yunnan, and Ruili City on the Sino-Myanmar border.
(21dnn 06/26/2001)
