A special cargo and passenger transport service now runs between the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China and Vietnam.

According to local sources, the new service, which started its inaugural run Tuesday, connects the three Vietnamese provinces of Lang Son, Quang Ninh Tinh and Cao Bang with Guangxi.

Exchanges and economic cooperation between China and Vietnam has been expanding over the past decade, with flourishing border trade. The volume of cargo flowing into Vietnam via Guangxi is worth two billion yuan a year.

The new service will further promote economic and trade relations between the two countries, especially economic development in border areas.

The new service also signals a growing friendship between the two countries as both of them are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Vietnamese diplomatic relations this week.

Last year, similar passenger and cargo service routes operated between southwest China's Yunnan Province and three provinces in Vietnam.