A regional integration customs clearance will be implemented among the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and three Northeast China provinces, namely Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang, from 2015, according to a decision by a cross-regional cooperation agreement signed among the four provinces and region on Sept 29 in the city of Dalian, Liaoning province, according to the Inner Mongolia Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.

In accordance with the regional cooperation agreement, the import and export businesses based in the four provinces and regions can declare customs clearance and inspection at any of the customs and inspection and quarantine organizations within the four provinces and region. Moreover, so-called “three ones” clearance services will be offered for these enterprises. The “three ones” clearance model includes one application, one inspection and one release, which is based on the cooperation between customs and inspection and quarantine units in order to simplify the clearance procedures and effectively improve customs performance.

In addition, the customs and inspection and quarantine organs in the agreement’s four parties will innovate their supervision models to support the construction of national key development and opening-up pilots along the border, such as Manzhouli, Erenhot and Dandong, as well as the Tumen River Area (Hunchun) International Cooperation Demonstration Zone. They will also support the development of industries including imported resources, in-depth processing and specialty products along the border.

Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang are notable for their geographic and industrial advantages in terms of opening-up with Russia and Mongolia. They are also complementary with each other in some sectors, such as resources, industries, transportation and logistics. The regional integration in customs clearance is expected to help regional economic integration.

Edited by Michael Thai