China opens its first major river-to-sea canal since 1949 as $10.8B shortcut to Southeast Asia

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China officially opened its first major river-to-sea canal since 1949, a $10.8 billion infrastructure project designed to connect landlocked regions directly to the sea. This canal aims to shorten transport times and boost trade links with Southeast Asian countries.

China opened a major canal on Wednesday that will provide landlocked areas with direct access to the sea, state media said, reducing transport times and costs as the country aims to bolster trade ties with regional neighbors.