Saving time, reclaiming the market

Editor's note: The State Council Information Office invited five representatives from the Customs department on Thursday to share their frontline stories of safeguarding the country's borders and facilitating high-quality growth.

Ye Wei, deputy director of the Office of Beilun Customs, Ningbo Customs District

Ningbo Zhoushan Port is showcasing the strength of a world-class seaport, with its cargo throughput continuing to lead globally. In 2024, the port's cargo volume surpassed 1.35 billion metric tons, securing its position as the world's busiest port.

Zhejiang province is home to a large number of small and microsized enterprises, many of which rely heavily on consolidated exports. In 2023, Ningbo pioneered a new regulatory model nationwide, allowing export cargo in consolidated containers to be inspected before loading.

I still remember a business owner saying excitedly, "We're not just saving time, we're reclaiming our market." Her words underscored the real value of Customs clearance efficiency — it is the lifeline for small and micro businesses, and the gear that keeps global trade turning.

Zhong Anqi, deputy chief of the Supervision Section No 3 of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Customs, Gongbei Customs District

On average, the Zhuhai highway port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge handles around 80,000 passengers, 19,000 vehicles, and goods worth 600 million yuan ($83.77 million) every day. The bridge has increasingly become a vital artery for the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Of late, we have actively cultivated new drivers of foreign trade by promoting various cross-border e-commerce export models through the bridge port. In the first five months of this year alone, exports processed through the Customs cross-border e-commerce platform exceeded 35.4 billion yuan, up 82.5 percent year-on-year.

Liu Zhendong, deputy chief of the Inspection Division of Khunjerab Customs, Urumqi Customs District

Since the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Khunjerab has transformed from a remote border town into a "golden hub" along the corridor.

In December, the Khunjerab Pass officially began year-round operations, providing uninterrupted convenience for trade and economic exchanges between China and Pakistan.

To further facilitate bilateral trade, China and Pakistan are jointly promoting the development of a "green channel" for the swift Customs clearance of agricultural and related products at the Khunjerab-Sust border crossing. This initiative has made it easier for Pakistani agricultural goods to access the Chinese market.

Li Wen, director of the Supervision Department of Yangpu Customs, Haikou Customs District

In recent years, the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port has advanced at a remarkable pace. Among its most valuable policies is the 30 percent value-added tariff exemption.

With no precedent to follow, we set up a dedicated policy support team to offer full-chain services, ranging from policy promotion and enterprise research to hands-on business guidance.

Since then, the policy has expanded from designated parks to key zones and now covers the entire island of Hainan. It has benefited 46 manufacturing enterprises across sectors such as food processing, petrochemicals, new materials, and medical supplies.

To date, duty-free sales under this policy have reached a total value of 9.06 billion yuan, with 711 million yuan in tariffs waived — a vivid example of how Hainan's free trade port policies are delivering real benefits on the ground.

Sun Tao, head of the Plant Quarantine Laboratory at the Chongqing Customs Technology Center

Let me share the story of how Polygonatum — a medicinal as well as edible herb with notable health benefits — made its way from the fields of Chongqing to international markets.

From building and managing planting bases to product registration and overseas market expansion, we were involved in every step of the process. In just nine months, we successfully facilitated the first export of a deeply processed product — Polygonatum noodles.

This is just one of many such success stories. In recent years, we have rolled out a special campaign to promote the export of high-quality, specialty agri-food products with strong market potential.

Meanwhile, we have also strengthened coordination with port authorities and Customs offices along key routes, allowing agricultural products to move and clear Customs more swiftly.