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SCIO briefing on China's imports and exports in 2017

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Speaker:
Mr. Huang Songping, spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs

Chairperson:
Xi Yanchun, vice director-general of the Press Bureau, State Council Information Office

Date:
Jan. 12, 2018

China Radio International (CRI):

Mr. Huang, in particular we would like to know more about the trade development between China and countries along the Belt and Road in 2017. In addition, what new approaches will the Chinese customs authorities take in pursuing opening up the process of customs clearance on all fronts? Thank you.

Huang Songping:

According to customs statistics, in 2017, China's import from and export to countries along the Belt and Road reached 7.37 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 17.8 percent, 3.6 percentage points higher than China's overall foreign trade growth rate, and accounting for 26.5 percent of the total value of China's foreign trade. Exports totaled 4.3 trillion yuan, an increase of 12.1 percent, while imports were 3.07 trillion yuan, an increase of 26.8 percent.

The Belt and Road Initiative conforms to the trend of the times and the desire of all countries to accelerate their development. Countries along the Belt and Road are pressing ahead with the common construction of the Belt and Road so as to share the benefits of“connectivity in five areas”, namely, connectivity in policy, transportation, trade, currency and the heart of the people. We believe our trade with the countries along the Belt and Road will continue to become a new highlight and an important new area of growth in China's foreign trade.

As for the next step, Chinese customs will improve capability to better serve China's opening up on all fronts as new ground has been broken. Specifically, we will comprehensively deepen our cooperative mechanisms for achieving compatibility in customs clearance procedures with the countries along the Belt and Road, and facilitate mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) in these countries. We will continue to improve customs supervision and control services, simplify customs clearance processes, and markedly improve trade facilitation. We will continue to transform and upgrade foreign trade, create new drive mechanisms forforeign trade growth, and support the development of new business forms in foreign trade. We will firmly support the hosting of the International Import Expo starting from 2018 and the Global Cross-border E-Commerce Conference, take the initiative in participating in the formulation of international trade rules, and work hard to make contributions to the development of an open economy. Thank you.