Beijing, August 24: As part of the “China Year” activities for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the second plenary session of the APEC Customs Procedures Subcommittee commenced on August 22 in the city of Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.
Zhang Paofeng, Deputy Chief of the Chinese Customs Administration, emphasized that APEC economies must intensify efforts to eliminate trade barriers and take more concrete steps to address obstacles in cross-border trade. This initiative aims to enhance the security, stability, and efficiency of the supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region.
Zhang highlighted the critical need for harmonizing regulations and standards amid the increasing fragmentation of global supply chains. He expressed hope that all parties would view this conference as an opportunity to strengthen coordination between regulations and standards, enhance cooperation in risk prevention and control, reduce trade costs, and improve customs clearance efficiency. This would create a safer, more transparent, and predictable business environment for enterprises.
In line with this, the Chinese Customs Administration shared the latest progress of the Smart Customs Partnership Program at the conference and held an exhibition showcasing achievements related to the development of smart customs. To deepen customs cooperation among APEC members, Zhang proposed three initiatives.
First, promote genuine multilateralism and establish a new framework for open and inclusive Asia-Pacific cooperation. Second, develop new models of customs administration through technological innovation to address challenges in the digital age. Third, strike a better balance between security and convenience to foster long-term prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region through robust and stable supply chains.
Additionally, on the same day, it was announced that the cooperation document proposed by the Chinese side, titled “Promoting Trade Security and Facilitation through Technology and Innovation by APEC Customs,” was approved.
(Source: China Media Group, Beijing)
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