China completes first full test of canal link to Southeast Asia ahead of September launch

Chinese authorities have conducted the first full transit test along a 134.2km (83.4-mile) canal megaproject linking a vast inland region with Southeast Asia, moving it to the final stages of preparation for a planned September launch that will smooth trade with a key bloc of trading partners. From Friday to Saturday, the Guangxi Maritime Safety Administration sent a patrol vessel to navigate the Pinglu Canal from the Gulf of Tonkin, which is shared by China and Vietnam. The vessel travelled...