China pledges trans-regional customs cooperation for "Belt and Road"
Xinhua, May 27, 2015 Adjust font size:
China has formulated a set of policies aimed at strengthening trans-regional customs cooperation to support the Belt and Road Initiative, customs authorities disclosed at a forum on Wednesday.
A 16-point policy pledges to give priority to port projects along the Belt and Road regions and further open up customs services in inland areas, according to the General Administration of Customs.
Other measures include improving customs management system to support logistics construction along the route.
The agency said it will improve cooperation with customs authorities in other countries to stimulate trade growth and regional prosperity.
The Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road plans proposed by China in 2013 for improved cooperation with countries in a vast part of Asia, Europe and Africa.
The Chinese government published an action plan specifying the principles, framework, priorities and mechanisms for the initiative in March. A 40 billion U.S. dollar Silk Road Fund, designed to finance the Belt and Road, has also been launched. Endi