NANNING — Development of a new canal project in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has been approved, local authorities said.

The Pinglu Canal, stretching 140 km with an estimated investment of 68 billion yuan (about $10.69 billion), aims to link Xijiang River, a major waterway in Southwest China, with ports in the Beibu Gulf.

The canal will start from the Xijin reservoir in city of Hengzhou and end at Luwu town of Lingshan county, where ships could reach the Beibu Gulf via the Qinjiang River, opening a shorter route to the sea for Guangxi and other regions in Southwest China.

Local authorities are gearing up to kick off construction of the project this year, according to the region's department of transport.