Market News International:
It was reported this morning that the United States has dropped its designation of China as a currency manipulator. My question is, what effect it will have on China's export in 2020? Could you please elaborate on China's export prospects this year? Thank you.
Zou Zhiwu:
In regard to this move, I can simply tell you that it is the correct choice and is of positive significance.
As for exports, with the anticipated signing of the phase one economic and trade agreement between China and the United States, I believe the good news will have a positive effect on the bilateral and even global trade. Thank you.
Press Trust of India (PTI):
You have just said the India-China trade grew at about 1.6 percent last year. There was a logical expectation that China-India bilateral trade in 2019 would exceed $100 billion for the first time. What was the reason that the final figure turned out to be lower than the expectation? Could you please brief us some data of specific goods exported to China by India, such as the Indian medicines exported to China?
Zou Zhiwu:
Thank you for your question. In regard to China-India bilateral trade, Mr. Huang has already given you a general introduction. As for the detailed data, especially of some specific products, we may talk about it after the press conference. Thank you.
Shou Xiaoli:
The last two questions.
Economic Daily:
As Mr. Zou mentioned just now that there are still severe internal and external challenges in regard to China's foreign trade. My question is, from what aspects will customs agencies focus on next to stabilize the growth and promote the development of foreign trade? Thanks.
Zou Zhiwu:
Thanks for your question. In recent years customs agencies all around China have resolutely implemented the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee in regard to modernizing the national governance system and its capabilities, taken a series of reform measures, improved the business environment at ports and promoted the quality of foreign trade while ensuring continued stability. Now, please allow me to introduce to you the key emphases in our work:
First, efforts have been made to continuously deepen the reforms to streamline administration, delegate powers, improve regulation, and upgrade services. We have canceled 92 certificates out of a total 116 in regard to customs clearance, simplified administrative review and approval procedures, and realized full coverage in all pilot projects in regard to the separation of business licenses and certificates required for starting a business. At the same time, we have further simplified regulatory documents related to the import and export trade, reducing them from 86 types to the present 44 to be examined at the ports. Except for an individual document or two being highly confidential, all can be verified online. This frees enterprises from such cumbersome procedures formerly handled with paper documents. Besides this, we have cut down the checking catalogue, implemented the practice of "clearance first and casual inspection later" concerning bulk imports of resources, thus greatly reducing the time goods are detained at port. We have also deepened the spot check mechanism, meaning the object to be checked is chosen at random, the checker is appointed at random and all information that can be open to the public shall be so handled with no exception. By now, 29 administrative spot check items have already been opened to public scrutiny.
Second, as the inspection and quarantine function and personnel are now a part of the customs arrangements, we have organized our work as required by the CPC Central Committee, in particular in accordance with the idea that there should be "chemical reactions" in reform put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping. We have combined the items required to be certified or written into the original customs inspection arrangements and items in the original customs clearance into one, reducing customs-related matters from more than 200 in these two aspects down to the present 105. As the same time, by following the advanced examples of some countries, we have implemented five innovative practices. For instance, in the reform of "declaration in two steps" now, when a cargo arrives at port, a brief declaration can be made based on logistics information as the first step, and, after declaring nine items, the clearance procedure can be then handled, so that the complete declaration can be made within 14 days even when the enterprise has already taken the delivery of the cargo. This practice greatly reduces the time needed for a customs declaration as well as the cost of goods detained at port.
Third, we are dedicated to China's regional development. By studying customs regulatory plans, we have given full support to the construction of Hainan free trade port. We have formulated and promulgated customs supervision, control and statistical methods and measures in Yangshan Special Comprehensive Bonded Area to support the construction of the surrounding areas related to Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone. We have formulated 26 customs measures and an integrated working mechanism exclusively for customs to support integrated development in the Yangtze River Delta Region. We have earnestly implemented the development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, established a cooperative mechanism between customs agencies of Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macau and between other regulatory authorities thereof, and promulgated special measures in this regard.
Fourth, efforts have been made to promote the high-quality development of comprehensive bonded zones. We implemented the policies released by the State Council on boosting the high-level opening-up and high-quality development of the comprehensive bonded zones, coordinated with relevant departments in formulating more than 20 supporting measures, and promote the measures to be carried out as soon as possible. Last year, the total import and export value within the comprehensive bonded zones throughout China reaches 2.6 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 13% and the growth of import and export figures in the comprehensive bonded zones are, in general, higher than the national average by 9.7%. In the frontline of comprehensive bonded zones, there are more than 2,500 enterprises with export and import records or performance ratings, 25.3% higher than that in the entire country.
Fifth, efforts have been made to innovate the regulatory system and boost the development of new business formats. We have positively adapted ourselves to the development of new business formats, such as comprehensive foreign trade service platforms. Just now we mentioned market purchasing, which matches well with the development of cross-border e-commerce. We have recently developed and implemented a measure concerning the return of goods in cross-border e-commerce, securing a smooth channel. This measure has now been through pilot work in more than 10 customs agencies and will soon be spread to the whole country.
The sixth is to support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. As I have introduced work in this regard when I talked about private enterprises just now, I will say no more.
In order to stabilize employment, finance, foreign trade, foreign investment, investment and expectations, a target set by the CPC Central Committee, we will roll out some new measures in 2020. First, we will further refine and implement the reform measures that have been introduced; second, we will put forward targeted reform plans to address the practical needs of enterprises. Generally speaking, we will follow the guidance regarding streamlining administration, delegating power, strengthening regulation and improving services, deepen the inspection and quarantine service's integration with the Customs, and ensure the Customs administration becomes more optimized, synergetic, and efficient. Thank you.
