Advancing the "Three Mutuals" Initiative for Streamlined Customs Clearance and Establishing Major International Logistics Corridors

2020-08-18 18:00


In response to the 2016 "Government Work Report's" proposal of "establishing a cooperative mechanism for streamlined customs clearance along the routes and constructing major international logistics corridors," Yu Guangzhou, Director of the General Administration of Customs (GAC), stated in an interview with reporters that the GAC will prioritize the "Three Mutuals" initiative—information exchange, mutual recognition of supervision, and mutual assistance in law enforcement—as the key lever to vigorously drive the construction of major international logistics corridors.

Yu emphasized that the GAC will facilitate the development of these corridors from both domestic and international perspectives. Domestically, the GAC has taken the lead in formulating the "Implementation Plan for Advancing the 'Three Mutuals' and Streamlining Customs Clearance Reform," outlining 37 crucial reform measures, which are currently being steadily and orderly implemented by various port authorities. One such reform is the "single window" for international trade, which transforms the customs clearance process from a sequential to a parallel model, enabling enterprises to submit a single declaration and receive unified feedback on enforcement outcomes, thereby reducing administrative burdens and enhancing efficiency. This reform was initiated in coastal ports last year and will be further extended to eligible inland ports this year.

On the international front, the GAC is dedicated to advancing international cooperation with customs administrations along the "Belt and Road" route in the area of customs clearance facilitation. To date, the GAC has established cooperative relations with customs authorities in 131 countries and regions, signing 162 bilateral cooperation documents. Last year, the GAC hosted the "Belt and Road" Customs High-Level Forum in Xi'an, where officials from customs administrations of 71 countries/regions and international organizations participated, leading to achievements such as the "Xi'an Initiative on Connectivity," which serves as a platform for cooperation among customs administrations along the route. Building upon the Xi'an Consensus, the GAC plans to negotiate and sign cooperation documents with more countries this year, actively implementing and expanding the scope and depth of cooperation, fostering interconnectivity among customs administrations along the "Belt and Road," ensuring that wherever the "Belt and Road" initiative extends, so does customs international cooperation.