By LI Linxu

In its latest moves to promote high-standard opening up, China has launched a special campaign for 2023 to optimize the business environment at key ports and further advance the facilitation of cross-border trade.

The special campaign covers 17 cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing, and will last for five months.

Ningbo, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shijiazhuang, Nanjing, Wuxi, Hangzhou, and Haikou are also some of those included on the list.

The port of Ningbo Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

The special campaign is jointly initiated by six government bodies including the General Administration of Customs (GAC), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

Measures will be taken to further advance the construction of smart ports and the digital upgrade of ports.

Efforts will also be made to improve the safe and smooth operation of logistics chain and supply chain for cross-border customs clearance.

More support will be given to the transformation of the foreign trade industry and the healthy development of emerging business forms.

Especially noteworthy is that pilot ports will be supported to establish the "white list" system for the import of biomedical R&D items.

Meanwhile, import and export compliance costs will be further standardized and reduced, in addition to measures taken to further improve the sense of gain and satisfaction among foreign trade business entities.

The special campaign is an important initiative to construct a first-class port business environment on a par with international advanced level, said an official from GAC, adding that the measures will further benefit enterprises and people, and better serve the country's transformation into a trader of quality.

In 2022, a special campaign to facilitate cross-border trade was carried out in 10 cities, and achieved significant results, with reduced clearance time, lower import and export fees, and more convenient one-stop services.