LHASA, May 10 (Xinhua) -- A new cross-border e-commerce industrial park opened on Friday in Lhasa, southwest China, as part of efforts to deepen trade and economic ties with South Asia, local authorities said.

The industrial park, located in the capital of the Xizang Autonomous Region, was designed to be a comprehensive platform for product display, warehousing, logistics, customs clearance and financial settlement services, according to Ye Haiying, director of the city's commerce bureau.

Spanning 16,000 square meters, the park has already attracted 12 cross-border e-commerce firms.

Goods are first consolidated in two major domestic trade hubs -- Guangzhou and Yiwu -- before being routed through Lhasa and shipped to a 1,800-square-meter overseas warehouse in Nepal, Ye said.

The overseas warehouse has reduced delivery times from 60 days when shipped by sea to just 20 days. Logistics efficiency has improved by 50 percent, and overall costs have fallen 20 percent, giving companies a competitive edge as they expand into South Asian markets, Ye noted.

Lhasa's location and multimodal transport links make it a well-positioned logistics hub.

The park is expected to attract more enterprises going forward, supporting local plateau industries and facilitating the flow of goods imported from South Asia, Ye said.

The project is part of China's broader efforts to enhance connectivity with South Asian economies. Official data shows that the total volume of trade between China and South Asian countries neared 200 billion U.S. dollars in 2023 -- double the amount recorded in 2013.  ■