NANNING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region saw its foreign trade volume reaching 57.21 billion U.S. dollars last year, compared with 6 million U.S. dollars in 1980, according to a report by the customs authorities of Nanning, the regional capital.

ASEAN has been Guangxi's biggest trading partner for 18 consecutive years, and Guangxi is also one of China's major importer and exporter among its western regions, according to the report.

Xie Jin, a regional customs official, said Guangxi has benefited from the influx of foreign investment given its fast economic development and industrial upgrading.

Xie said Nanning customs will continue its reform to facilitate international trade by improving customs efficiency as the region continues to open up to ASEAN and the rest of the world.

The region will also integrates its development with the Pearl River Delta and east China coast, Xie said.