Major Chinese river-to-sea canal passes completion acceptance

Pinglu Canal in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has passed its completion acceptance, moving a step closer to its planned opening to navigation in September, the Pinglu Canal Group said on Friday.

The acceptance committee, comprising representatives from the regional transport department, maritime safety administration and the canal group, unanimously agreed that the waterway alignment, lock structures, slope protection and ecological embankments all meet design and technical specifications, and that project documentation is complete and well-managed.

The 134.2-km canal is a major project along the country's New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, a strategic route linking China's inland regions with ASEAN and other global markets. The project began construction on Aug. 28, 2022, and is expected to become operational next month. ■