Customs clearance eases for China-Laos freight

A freight train loaded with 70 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of exported goods left Jinhua South Railway Station in Zhejiang province Wednesday, bound for Vientiane, Laos.

It marked the start of China-Laos international freight train and the Railway Express that goes through rapid customs clearance procedures either at the port of entry or exit.

The train will travel through China Mohan Port in Yunnan province, which borders Laos, carrying household appliances, agricultural machinery and garden equipment, mainly produced in Ningbo, Hangzhou and Jinhua.

On June 8 this year, the business model of rapid customs clearance for entry and exit by rail was successfully conducted by the railway department, Jinhua International Train Platform Co and Chinese customs officials.

Customs can examine electronic manifest data, release goods and cancel after verification. Enterprises are not required to make declarations and undergo the customs transit formalities separately, significantly reducing time, improving efficiency, alleviating congestion at the port and saving international logistics costs.

Nine China-Laos freight trains have run through Zhejiang so far. It plays an essential role in boosting the cross-border logistics, fostering new drivers of growth, strengthening connectivity between China and neighboring countries and serving the Belt and Road Initiative.

Fang Xiaoying contributed to this story.