21st Century Business Herald:

In the first half of the year, policy support helped China's foreign trade maintain stable growth despite a complex environment. Could you share what specific measures the GACC has taken to improve trade facilitation and optimize the business environment? In what specific ways do the measures provide practical help to enterprises? Thank you.

Wang Lingjun:

Mr. Lyu will answer your questions.

Lyu Daliang:

Thank you for your interest in customs' work on cross-border trade facilitation. In order to implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the GACC led an initiative with 20 departments and 25 pilot cities, launching a special action on cross-border trade facilitation in April this year. We have made every effort to implement 29 measures, striving to create a port business environment that is faster, more efficient, and more coordinated and transparent. We have also worked to energize companies and stabilize foreign trade growth. So far, these efforts have produced positive results in the following areas:

Policy support has been strengthened. We have responded to enterprise demands in a targeted way and promoted the development of new business forms. We optimized and adjusted the product catalog for bonded maintenance in comprehensive bonded zones. We also piloted support for qualified bonded maintenance projects outside the zones. In the first half of the year, the total import and export value of bonded maintenance services nationwide reached 256.99 billion yuan, up 7.5%. We also expanded the pilot program for inspecting lithium batteries with recyclable packaging and introduced pilot differentiated supervision for dual-use items that serve as both food and traditional medicine.

Cross-border logistics have become faster. We have optimized regulatory models, simplified customs clearance procedures, vigorously promoted expedited rail clearance operations, and continuously improved efficiency at air ports. We have also strengthened monitoring and management of container volume fluctuations at key ports and deepened regulatory model innovations such as "dockside direct collection," "direct loading upon arrival" and "vessel departure confirmation." We have actively promoted a "single-document, single-container" model for the rail-sea intermodal transport service. In the first half of the year, the volume of import and export containers via waterways nationwide reached 67.41 million twenty-foot equivalent units, up 11.3%.

The trade environment has improved significantly. We have stepped up efforts to promote international cooperation in cross-border trade facilitation. For example, we have jointly established a global Smart Customs online cooperation platform with the World Customs Organization. Currently, customs authorities from 141 countries and regions have registered to join the platform. Using the China International Trade Single Window platform, we launched a two-way "one submission for two declarations" system for imports and exports. This enables online exchange and verification of electronic certificates while promoting real-time information updates and sharing. The initiative has significantly expanded cross-border connectivity through the Single Window system.

Customs clearance costs have been reduced. We have enhanced joint incentives for Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) enterprises, providing preferential and facilitative measures, including financing credit, financing guarantees, and export credit insurance to AEO companies 3,776 times. We have also expanded co-loading services that enable vessels to simultaneously transport foreign trade cargo and domestic freight, and launched a campaign to reduce logistics costs across industries. I would also like to introduce a measure closely related to people's daily lives: The GACC has launched a one-stop processing platform for inbound and outbound mail, offering integrated government services to users. The platform allows users to track the customs clearance status of inbound and outbound mail through three channels: our website, mobile app and WeChat mini-program. Users can also complete various customs procedures in one place, including declarations, tax payments and tax refund applications. This streamlined approach significantly reduces processing times and eliminates the additional costs previously required for agency services. We welcome everyone to use these services and share valuable feedback.

Going forward, we will remain committed to advancing the special campaign to facilitate cross-border trade. We will focus on the following key areas: ensuring precise policy implementation, conducting thorough impact assessments and promoting successful practices, and continuously improving the business environment. This will ensure the campaign produces measurable results while increasing company satisfaction through real benefits.

Thank you.