China Customs committed to sound development of cross-border e-commerce

By Zhang Liying
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, February 10, 2018
Adjust font size:

The first Global Cross-Border E-commerce Conference opened in Beijing on Feb. 9.

The two-day event, with a theme of "An innovative, inclusive, strategic and collaborative approach to sustainable cross-border E-Commerce," has attracted many high-level policymakers and experts to explore solutions for a secure, sustainable and dynamic cross-border e-commerce environment.

The first Global Cross-Border E-commerce Conference opened in Beijing on Feb. 9. [Photo/cctv.com]

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang attended and addressed the conference, calling on countries throughout the world to open the e-commerce markets of each country ready for fresh growth opportunities in emerging trade.

Wang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the world should make joint efforts to set up common rules, share customs information and promote "single window" clearance.

Co-hosted by China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) and the World Customs Organization (WCO), the plan is for the conference to become a biennial event to facilitate global customs cooperation.

A fast-growing trade trend

As a new form of business, cross-border e-commerce has been flourishing in China, generating new growth drivers, boosting foreign trade, upgrading consumption and creating new job openings, said GAC head Yu Guangzhou, in his speech at the conference.

"Cross-border e-commerce is a bridge connecting global production and consumption, and an important source of strength that can resist protectionism and promote trade liberalization and facilitation," Yu said.

China's cross-border e-commerce trade turnover rose 80.6 percent from 2016 reaching 90.24 billion yuan in 2017, with exports surging 41.3 percent to 33.65 billion yuan and imports advancing 116.4 percent to 56.59 billion yuan. The average annual growth rate for the past three years has been more than 50 percent.

According to Jack Ma, founder and executive chairman of Chinese internet giant Alibaba Group, the number of express delivery packages handled each day in China will increase ten-fold to one billion within the next eight to ten years, with 15 percent coming from cross-border e-commerce.

"I believe cross-border e-commerce, though still an emerging business model, is bound to be the main form of international trade in the near future," he said.

Kunio Mikuriya, secretary general of WCO also stressed the importance of the fast-growing trend of trade created by e-commerce.

Jointly creating a sound environment

While opening up new opportunities for global economy, the booming cross-border e-commerce, also poses challenges to customs around the world.

In an era of small packages, we need to use new technologies to upgrade traditional customs procedures and establish a sound environment where various risks such illegal trade can be handled and cross-border e-commerce can be promoted, declared Kunio Mikuriya.

Yu Guangzhou expressed GAC's readiness to cooperate with all stakeholders including the business community, international organizations and customs of other countries to contribute to cross-border e-commerce and world economic development.

"We will jointly establish a framework of standards to enhance trade facilitation, speed up the application of new technologies to improve supervision, foster a coordinated network to deepen the partnership and build cooperation platforms for common development," Yu said.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter