The People's Government of Hunan Province and the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) signed a cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Changsha on the afternoon of November 25, 2024. The two sides would thoroughly implement President Xi Jinping's important remarks on opening up, further deepen Hunan-GACC collaboration, and build Hunan into a pacesetter for reform and opening-up in China's inland regions.

Shen Xiaoming, secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, witnessed the signing ceremony. Mao Weiming, deputy secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and governor of Hunan Province, and Yu Jianhua, GACC minister and Party secretary, signed the MOU and had a discussion.

Vice Governor Cao Zhiqiang and GACC Party member Zhang Baofeng attended.

On November 25, the provincial government and the GACC signed a cooperation MOU. Secretary Shen witnessed the signing ceremony. Governor Mao and Minister Yu signed the MOU.

Governor Mao thanked GACC for its long-term support for Hunan's work and briefed them on Hunan's opening up. He noted that in recent years, Hunan has been comprehensively carrying forward President Xi Jinping's important speeches and instructions on Hunan's work; giving full play to its advantages of location, resources, and industries; continuing to make good use of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), and other opening-up platforms; deeply integrating into the Belt and Road Initiative; and, achieving remarkable results in opening up and development.

Between January and October this year, Hunan's total import and export value reached 461.42 billion CNY, with rapid growth in construction machinery, the "new three" of electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic, and agricultural products. Its foreign trade with Africa topped the central and western regions of China. The number of China-Europe (Changsha) freight trains stood at the national forefront. The Huaihua International Land Port handled the most China-Laos freight trains in central China. The inbound and outbound trips at the Zhangjiajie Airport hit a record high.

He expected the GACC to continuously assist Hunan in opening up and development, and give more guidance and support in system innovation of Hunan FTZ, construction of bonded logistics centers, convenience of customs clearance, and import of key raw materials. GACC may help Hunan advance high-level opening up and better serve and integrate into the new development paradigm, he added.

Governor Mao and Minister Yu met before the signing ceremony.

Minister Yu thanked the provincial Party committee and the provincial government for their concern and support for GACC. He believed that Hunan has obvious geographical advantages, solid industrial foundations, and favorable business environment, maintaining strong momentum of opening up and development and concentrated drivers. GACC would effectively fulfill its duty and mission of guarding the country's gates and promoting development, and actively integrate into Hunan's beautiful blueprint of "Three Hubs and Four New Missions" strategy.

He said that GACC will identify the starting and major points of the customs work according to Hunan's demands; further strengthen cooperation with Hunan in the construction of smart customs and international logistics channels; and, keep improving the supervision effectiveness and service level, contributing to building Hunan into a hub for reform and opening-up in inland areas of China.

The meeting.

According to the MOU, both sides will enhance partnership in building Hunan into a national hub for important and advanced manufacturing industries, a sci-tech and innovation center with core competitiveness, and a pacesetter for reform and opening-up in China's inland regions; the construction of the Pioneering Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation and the national pilot zone for integrated development of culture and science and technology; and, the optimization of the business environment at ports.

Photos taken by Liu Shangwen.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn