NANNING, Dec. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- The first expressway between China and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) opened to traffic on Wednesday.

    The 179.2-kilometer-long expressway starts from Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and leads to Vietnam's Friendship Pass. It is an important part of China's national highway network, said Guo Shengkun, vice-chairmanof Guangxi regional government.

    With an investment of 3.7 billion yuan (456 million U.S. dollars), the eight-lane expressway is currently the most convenient overland passage linking China with the ASEAN.

    The expressway shortens the traveling time between Nanning and the Sino-Vietnamese border to less than two hours, half of what isrequired in the past, and it also takes five hours from Nanning toHanoi, the official said.

    The expressway will be conducive to expanding the trade scale between China and ASEAN countries and promoting the formation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. Enditem