China unveils customs measures for boosting development of central region

Ezhou Huahu Airport in central China's Hubei Province, the country's first cargo-focused airport, saw its accumulated international throughput exceeding 100,000 tonnes last June. 

Starting international operation in April 2023, the airport is now running 18 international routes in addition to 50 domestic routes. It owns a 750,000-square meter cargo transfer center with parcel sorting lines adding up to 52 kilometers.

In June last year, a new international air cargo route linking Ezhou Huahu Airport with Hungarian capital Budapest was launched. This direct air route will mainly serve parcel express, and e-commerce goods, among others. It will expand channels for air logistics between the two countries and boost China-Europe economic exchanges.

China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Sunday unveiled 16 key measures aimed at further energizing the country's central region.

These measures include optimizing railway fast clearance, supporting cross-border e-commerce and the establishment of demonstration areas for absorbing relocated processing trade industries.

A view of Zhengzhou International Land Port in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, May 6, 2024. /CFP

The GAC plans to enhance international cargo operations by supporting the introduction of new and more frequent cargo flights at Ezhou Huahu International Airport, Hubei Province. Additionally, it will facilitate the new site construction of the land port in Zhengzhou of Henan Province and upgrading the land port in Hefei of Anhui Province.

Furthermore, It will assist Changsha Huanghua International Airport in Hunan Province and Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in signing a new cooperation agreement.

It will also help improve the security guarantee capacity in food, energy and resources like coal and minerals, and make efforts to help advance ecological protection and cut carbon emissions in the region.

The customs authority will also collaborate with the central region to promote ecological environmental protection and green, low-carbon development. Key measures include enhancing coordinated epidemic and disease prevention at ports and deepening the reform of inspection models for imported and exported hazardous materials.

(With input from Xinhua)