Beijing, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Zou Duowei and Wang Yuhao Shorter customs clearance time for import and export goods, lower import and export costs, and more convenient import and export procedures... The customs has made substantial progress in promoting cross-border trade facilitation in recent years, Zhao Zenglian, a member of the Party Committee and director of the General Administration of Customs, said Tuesday.

On the same day, at The State Council policy regular briefing held by the State Information Office, Zhao Zenglian said that optimizing the business environment of ports has attracted much attention. In recent years, the General Administration of Customs has implemented the requirements of epidemic prevention, economic stability and safe development, set the standard of international advanced level, and constantly deepened the reform of "regulation, regulation and service". In conjunction with relevant ministries and commissions and local governments, we have launched special actions to promote cross-border trade facilitation, focusing on improving procedures, improving efficiency and reducing costs.

"There are three main things that have worked." Zhao Zenglian said, first, import and export goods overall clearance time is shorter. In 2022, the total customs clearance time for imports and exports was 32.02 hours and 1.03 hours, respectively, down 67.1 percent and 91.6 percent from 2017.

Second, the cost of import and export is lower. According to the estimation of relevant departments, the fee reduction of coastal port pilotage agencies alone can save about 320 million yuan for relevant enterprises every year. At present, our port charge level is lower than Japan, Singapore and other neighboring countries, much lower than the level of European and American countries.

Third, it is more convenient to handle import and export procedures. Up to now, the "single window" for international trade has been connected with 30 departments, and 819 services in 22 categories have been launched, with more than 6.2 million registered users and 17 million daily business declaration transactions, basically achieving full coverage of port law enforcement services and meeting the "one-stop" business handling needs of enterprises.

The briefing also introduced the work of State Council departments in handling suggestions of NPC deputies and proposals of CPPCC members in 2022. Among them, the General Administration of Customs handled 148 suggestions of NPC and 141 proposals of CPPCC National Committee, a total of 289. Both the timely completion rate and the satisfaction rate of replies were 100%.

Zhao Zenglian said that in the next step, the General Administration of Customs will continue to actively ask the deputies about their needs and strategies, and take handling suggestions and proposals as an important opportunity and starting point to improve the customs work and enhance the customs service level of economic and social development, protect the security of the country, optimize the business environment of the port, promote high-level opening up and high-quality development, and make new contributions to the customs for the promotion of Chinese-style modernization.