Key facts
- China has completed the Pinglu Canal, an $11 billion project.
- The canal features three sets of locks designed to carry ships up to 5,000 metric tons.
- The project was completed in four years.
- The canal aims to alleviate congestion on the Yangtze River.
China has completed the Pinglu Canal, an $11 billion infrastructure project aimed at easing shipping chokepoints on the Yangtze River and boosting trade with Southeast Asia. The canal, which took four years to build, features three sets of locks capable of accommodating ships weighing up to 5,000 metric tons, designed to bridge a 65-meter elevation difference. The completion of the canal underscores China's strategic focus on enhancing its connectivity and trade routes within Southeast Asia.