Recently, a special press conference dedicated to trade and investment facilitation in the development of the Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector and the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone ("Two Zones") kicked off. As learned from the conference, in the past two years, Beijing Customs has established an integrated model which combines platforms, channels, environment, and industries to achieve the goals. It centers on breakthroughs in policies, institutional innovation, and collaborative advancement to provide convenient and efficient support for reforms, opening-up and innovation in various sectors of Beijing. 

In August 2022, the average hours spent for import and export clearance in Beijing's Customs District were 25.14 hours and 0.61 hour, both reaching their best levels in history. Meanwhile, Beijing seizes the opportunities brought by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and improves policies for customs services. In the first eight months of 2022, Beijing Customs issued 2,630 RCEP certificates to 123 enterprises, with a freight value of USD 150 million. These enterprises can enjoy tariff reductions of about CNY 9,701,400 overseas. Additionally, Beijing steps up its efforts in credit cultivation for import and export enterprises and offers more convenience. It also ramps up fostering for enterprises that have trade relations with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, members of the RCEP, five countries in Central Asia, and Central and Eastern European countries. Meanwhile, enterprises with emerging forms of business and specialized, high-end and innovation-driven businesses that provide distinctive products or services can also benefit a lot from these endeavors. To date, the number of advanced certified enterprises in the Customs District of Beijing has reached 265, increasing by 12.3 percent year on year.

In the near future, Beijing Customs will keep implementing relevant reform policies and support the "Two Zones" development by all means, so as to improve the facilitation for cross-border trade.

(Source: Beijing Daily)