NANNING -- South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region reported robust foreign trade growth in the first five months of 2023, according to the local customs authority.

Guangxi's total imports and exports from January to May hit 287.5 billion yuan ($40 billion), up 53.2 percent year-on-year.

Exports rose 70.5 percent year-on-year to approximately 146.5 billion yuan, and imports increased 38.6 percent to over 141 billion yuan, data from Nanning Customs showed.

Trade between Guangxi and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) totaled 137 billion yuan, up 117.4 percent year-on-year.

With more and more agricultural products from ASEAN countries enjoying easier access to the Chinese market, Guangxi also saw its fruit imports from ASEAN countries notch up 3.66 billion yuan during the period, a 193.7 percent jump year-on-year. Notably, the import value of fresh durians from ASEAN countries reached 3.24 billion yuan, up 516 percent.