SCIO briefing series on 'high-quality achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period': Customs

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Speakers:

Ms. Sun Meijun, minister of the General Administration of Customs (GAC)

Mr. Zhao Zenglian, vice minister of the GAC

Mr. Wang Jun, vice minister of the GAC

Mr. Zhang Baofeng, member of the Party Committee and director general of the General Office of the GAC

Chairperson:

Ms. Shou Xiaoli, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

Aug. 25, 2025

Shou Xiaoli:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Today's briefing is part of the series on "high-quality achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period." We are delighted to have invited Ms. Sun Meijun, minister of the General Administration of Customs (GAC), to introduce the achievements of customs in safeguarding national security and promoting high-quality development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period and to answer your questions. Also attending today's press conference are: Mr. Zhao Zenglian and Mr. Wang Jun, vice ministers of the GAC; and Mr. Zhang Baofeng, member of the Party Committee and director general of the General Office of the GAC.

Now, I'll give the floor to Ms. Sun for her introduction.

Sun Meijun:

Hello, Ms. Shou. Hello, members of the media. First, thank you all for your concern, attention, understanding and support for the work related to customs. I'm delighted to speak with you about the work of customs in safeguarding national security and promoting high-quality development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

Since the launch of the 14th Five-Year Plan, changes unseen in a century have accelerated, and uncertainties in the external environment have significantly increased. Under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China has achieved major new accomplishments in economic and social development. Customs authorities nationwide have earnestly implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's important reply to all customs officers stationed at the Khunjerab Pass, faithfully fulfilling the mission of safeguarding the nation's borders and promoting development, carrying forward the spirit of struggle, reforming and innovating, tackling difficulties, focusing on improving regulatory efficiency and service levels, and making significant progress in customs modernization, providing strong support for high-quality development and high-level opening up. The main achievements are as follows:

First, new achievements have been made in safeguarding national border security. We have unswervingly implemented a holistic approach to national security, established an integrated risk prevention and control system covering all aspects, and further consolidated security at the national border. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan, customs have annually supervised 5.2 billion metric tons of imported and exported goods, with a value of 41.5 trillion yuan. Boasting the world's largest volume of supervised goods, the customs supervision work has maintained overall safety and stability. A total of 5.15 million prohibited items related to harmful political content, firearms and explosives have been seized, more than 180,000 cases of over 70 types of infectious diseases have been detected, and more than 200,000 batches of substandard goods have been disposed of, resolutely preventing security risks from entering the nation's borders. We have implemented comprehensive tax administration and levied customs duties in accordance with the law, with total customs tax revenue reaching 9.7 trillion yuan. We have maintained a tough stance against smuggling, investigating and handling a total of 23,000 smuggling criminal cases. Smuggling activities involving key sectors, regions and commodities have been effectively curbed. From the border ports on the Pamir Plateau to the container terminals on the East China Sea coast, all customs officers have faithfully guarded the nation's security and the interests of the people.

Second, new breakthroughs have been made in customs clearance facilitation. Adhering to institutional innovation and technological empowerment, we have comprehensively advanced the development of a smart customs system, and fully realized nationwide integrated customs clearance. The China International Trade Single Window has become a "digital portal" connecting China to global trade. The number of services available via "one-stop online processing" has reached 964 items in 25 categories, basically covering the entire chain and all aspects of cross-border trade. Online and mobile customs clearance services have become the norm. The supervision model for multimodal transport involving road, rail, sea and air transport has enabled "one-time declaration" and "single-document handling" for the entire logistics process. Smart passenger inspection services have been deployed at 80% of aviation ports, allowing passengers to complete customs clearance in a seamless and efficient manner. We have continued to carry out special campaigns to facilitate cross-border trade, significantly improving the business environment at ports.

Third, the construction of open channels and platforms has reached a new level. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China has added and expanded 40 open ports, bringing the total number to 311. This has essentially created a multidimensional, comprehensive network of open ports that connects land, sea and air transportation across the eastern, central and western regions. With "customs connected to the world and goods reaching all directions," economic and cultural exchanges have become broader and closer. China-Europe freight train assembly centers have upgraded from a "point-to-point" model to a "hub-to-hub" network. Comprehensive bonded zones and other special customs supervision areas have emerged as new highlands for opening-up across various regions, accounting for one-fifth of the country's total import and export value while occupying less than 1/20,000 of the country's land area. We are making every effort to complete all preparatory work for the operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port. We have introduced customs supervision measures, completed the acceptance of "second-line ports," launched the smart supervision platform, and will soon release three institutional documents, including the "second-line port" customs declaration specifications, to ensure the official launch on Dec. 18.

Fourth, new progress has been made in promoting high-quality development. We have developed innovative regulatory models for emerging business forms such as cross-border e-commerce, overseas warehouses, and "bonded plus," promoting regional coordinated development, accelerating the growth of new drivers of foreign trade, and making production and supply chains more secure and stable. Exports of the "new three" products accounted for a higher proportion of total trade in 2024, increasing 2.6 times compared to 2020. The sources of imports broadened, with 271 new agricultural and food products from 81 countries and regions gaining access during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Imports of bulk commodities, advanced equipment and key components have been diversified. The regional import-export structure is better, with the eastern region maintaining stable volume and improving quality, while the central and western regions have gained momentum with an average annual import-export growth of 7.9%. In 2024, the total value of China's goods trade reached 43.8 trillion yuan, ranking first in the world for the eighth consecutive year. From January to July this year, imports and exports grew 3.5% year on year, with exports rising 7.3%, highlighting the strong resilience and vitality of China's foreign trade.

Fifth, international win-win cooperation is creating new opportunities. We firmly uphold the multilateral trading system, oppose unilateralism and counter coercive bullying. Our circle of friends continues to expand, and the path of trade diversification is getting wider and wider. Since the 14th Five-Year Plan period, we have signed 519 cooperation documents with other countries. To serve the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, we have significantly improved trade security and facilitation. In 2024, China's imports and exports with partner countries reached 22 trillion yuan, accounting for more than half of total trade. Annual growth in imports and exports with emerging markets such as ASEAN, Latin America, Africa and Central Asia exceeded 10%. China has become one of the top three trading partners for 157 countries and regions worldwide. The new advantages of international win-win cooperation have become increasingly prominent, further demonstrating China's responsibility as a major country.

Next, customs offices across the country will resolutely implement the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, actively planning a new chapter of high-quality development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. We will make new contributions to Chinese modernization through improved supervision, enhanced security, greater convenience and stricter anti-smuggling efforts. We will strive to be the border guardians that the Party trusts and that people are satisfied with.

That concludes my introduction. My colleagues and I will now be happy to answer your questions. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

Thank you, Ms. Sun. Now, we will open the floor for questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before asking your questions.