Chinese customs authority strengthens logistics along trade corridor

BEIJING, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Friday announced that it would implement key measures to facilitate cross-border logistics along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

The newly announced measures include facilitating customs clearance for intermodal transport along the corridor, supporting the expansion of international rail transport capacity, and helping better connect the corridor with the China-Europe Railway Express and the Yangtze River.

During a press conference on Friday, Wu Haiping, director of the GAC's Department of General Operations, said that the measures are targeted at supporting economic and trade growth in regions along the corridor and strengthening customs inspection and quarantine cooperation with countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"In order to promote industrial cooperation between China and the ASEAN, the specific measures targeting the corridor also include six-hour clearance for perishable products such as meat, fruits, and other fresh produce," Wu said.

The customs authority will also strengthen monitoring and analysis of import and export flows along the corridor, compile a China-ASEAN trade index and offer better counseling services for technical trade-related measures.

Launched in 2017, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor is a trade and logistics passage jointly built by provincial-level regions in western China and ASEAN members.