The State Council Information Office (SCIO) held a news briefing on deepening customs reform and further trade facilitation on Dec. 24.

The State Council Information Office (SCIO) held a news briefing on deepening customs reform and further trade facilitation on Dec. 24.

Yu Guangzhou, head of the General Administration of Customs, Huang Songping, spokesperson of the administration, and Li Kuiwen, director at the research office of the administration, introduced related information and answered media questions.

Yu said the administration had mainly made progress in six aspects as it has greatly released the bonus of reform through innovation, promoted  comprehensive reform in all areas, introduced a “spot check” mechanism to advance fairness, integrity and efficiency, innovated customs supervision for free trade pilot programs, promoted law enforcement and stayed alert against smuggling.

According to the briefing, the administration has signed 166 cooperative treaties with 131 countries to advance the “Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road” Initiative. It promised to promote deeper and wider cooperation in the coming years to facilitate trade with countries along the “Belt and Road.”

Due to the underperforming global economy, high costs of company operations and declining prices of global commodities, China’s total volume of imports and exports showed negative growth.

Yu admitted the challenges, but also stressed achievements this year in imports and exports as China’s total volume of imports and exports led the world, global market share expanded, various emerging businesses prospered and the structure of imports and exports further improved.

According to the briefing, the administration cracked 173 major smuggling cases and launched anti-smuggling campaigns for wildlife, agricultural products and refined oil products.

It also initiated customs clearance integration in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone, four provinces in the Pan Pearl River Delta Region, the Silk Road Economic Belt, and China’s northeastern provinces. The administration promised further efforts in nationwide clearance integration in the coming years.