Xiamen in Fujian province issued a work plan recently to boost cross-border trade and enhance port clearance efficiency.

The 2023 Work Plan on Promoting Cross-Border Trade Facilitation and Optimizing Port Customs Clearance Environment clarified 40 specific measures focusing on five major aspects: optimizing the environment for port customs clearance; improving the quality and efficiency of port and shipping services; promoting the digital transformation of ports; accelerating the green, low-carbon, and intelligent development of ports; as well as building a stable and transparent port environment.

Convenient services

Optimizing the environment for port customs clearance has always been a priority for the city. The plan proposes that Xiamen implement measures like "direct pick-up besides ships" and "direct loading upon arrival", upgrade services for companies with Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certifications, as well as simplify customs clearance procedures for imported goods in the bonded zone.

The city will also establish a customs clearance mechanism for cargo flights at airports, expand the number of China-Europe freight trains, and develop multimodal transport services.

Digital transformation

Digitalization is another critical point for creating a high-quality business environment. The plan clearly states that the city should achieve the digital transformation of ports by building key platforms, promoting paperless operation for documents in port logistics, as well as improving e-services for personnel flow and customs clearance. Xiamen will strengthen the collaborative management and efficiency of ports and shipping, ensure the safety of dangerous cargo, as well as promote digital services for ship operations.

Green and transparent measures

The plan encourages enterprises to carry out green and low-carbon transformation of mechanical equipment, increase the utilization rate of power at wharfs, improve the logistics capacity for new energy power batteries, as well as build the emissions monitoring system of air pollutants at Xiamen Port.

The plan also proposes building a stable and transparent port environment, reducing the costs of enterprises qualified in the inspection of goods, enhancing the transparency of port charges, as well as strengthening the supervision of charge prices over import and export procedures.

An aerial view of Xiamen Port. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]