Since 2024, Gansu Province has been committed to expanding its opening up in all respects, leveraging its geographical and channel advantages to build a major hub and passage for opening up to the west. It has made great efforts in expanding the scale of its open economy and other aspects, significantly enhancing the level of its outward-oriented economic development.

In 2024, the total value of imports and exports in the province reached 61.54 billion yuan, increased by 25.2%, which was 20.2 percentage points higher than the national average (5%), ranking first in growth rate nationwide. The number of actual performance foreign trade enterprises in the province reached 875, with a net increase of 139. The exports of agricultural products, chemicals and new energy equipment in Lanzhou increased by 27.8%, 40.6% and 331.1% respectively, and the export value of wind power equipment reached 430 million yuan. Imports and exports with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative increased by 27.7%, accounting for 77% of the province's total foreign trade value.

Through deep integration into the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road", Gansu's foreign investment cooperation has been promoted in depth. In 2024, the province's non-financial direct investment abroad reached 130 million US dollars. Gansu enterprises have made their presence felt in countries and regions such as Hong Kong, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Serbia, Ghana, Kenya, Belarus, South Africa, Laos, and Uzbekistan. The investment projects cover a wide range of industries including business services, wholesale and retail trade, education, construction, manufacturing, and mining.

In 2024, there were 66 newly established foreign-funded enterprises in the province, an increase of 94.1% over the previous year. The actual use of foreign capital was 86.19 million US dollars, and the utilization of foreign capital in high-tech industries was 13.99 million US dollars, an increase of 1.9% over the previous year; The number of investor countries has increased from 3 countries and regions last year to 8 (Hong Kong, United States, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Canada, Singapore).

The development of channel logistics has accelerated. Gansu has successively launched and operated international freight trains in multiple directions, including routes to Europe, Central Asia, South Asia, the New Land-Sea Corridor, the new "China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan" Central Asia corridor, and the eastern seaport rail-sea intermodal transport. These routes cover more than 20 countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. In 2024, a total of 153 international freight trains with 7,186 cars were dispatched, along with 1,683 cars in sporadic shipments, with a cargo value of $1.25 billion, doubling the previous year's figures. Among these, 46 outbound trains with 1,482 cars were dispatched to Europe and Central Asia, achieving a twofold increase. Successfully launched were the regular Central Asia freight train from Lanzhou Dongchuan to Khorgos, the inaugural international freight train for commercial vehicles (JSQ type) to Europe and Central Asia (Lanzhou-Moscow, Almaty, Tashkent), the "one-stop" rail-sea intermodal international freight train for mineral sand (Peru-Lianyungang-Baiyin), the TIR international trucking service (Lanzhou-Kathmandu, Almaty), the New Western Land-Sea Corridor (Jinchang-Vietnam Lao Cai), and the China-Laos Railway (Laos-Tianshui) international freight trains. These developments continuously expand trade channels to the west and south.

Relevant departments in Gansu Province coordinate to ensure the "double growth" of international passenger and freight volume at air ports, and promote the improvement of port operation level. In 2024, Lanzhou Airport completed 89600 inbound and outbound passengers, a year-on-year increase of 1.3 times; Newly opened four international (regional) cargo charter routes from Lanzhou to Auckland, Tashkent, Hong Kong, and Osaka, achieving an international air cargo volume of 4848 tons, a year-on-year increase of 99%, setting a new historical high.