On May 22, Ningbo hosted the 7th China-CEEC Dialogue on Customs, Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation. Under the theme "Smart Customs, Safe Agri-Food, Sustainable Trade", this dialogue aimed to enhance collaboration between Chinese and CEEC customs and quarantine authorities, expand agricultural trade volume, and facilitate secure and efficient customs clearance. The dialogue gathered over 70 participants, including officials from China's GACC and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhejiang provincial and Ningbo municipal governments, customs and quarantine authorities from nine CEECs including Bulgaria, diplomatic representatives, and delegates from the EU Chamber of Commerce in China.
During the dialogue, participants engaged in thorough discussions on key topics including the development of smart customs and the application of high-tech innovations in customs reform, quarantine access and food safety standards for agricultural products from CEECs, strengthening the resilience of global supply chains, and the "Green Channel" initiative for streamlined exports from CEECs to China. Participants acknowledged that customs and inspection and quarantine authorities bear the dual mission of safeguarding national borders while fostering economic growth. In addressing new challenges posed by economic globalization, they emphasized the strategic imperative of enhanced customs inspection and quarantine collaboration. All parties reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to multilateralism, pledging to actively advance free trade and economic globalization. They agreed to expand international customs cooperation through progressive institutional openness in rules, regulations, management frameworks and standards. Collectively, they resolved to serve as: staunch advocates for economic globalization and trade liberalization; dedicated protectors of China-EU trade security and facilitation; and committed implementers of modernization in global customs inspection-quarantine governance.
In 2024, the bilateral trade volume between China and CEECs reached USD 142.27 billion, marking a 6.3% year-on-year increase. This growth rate surpassed China's overall import and export growth by 2.5 percentage points, demonstrating robust development momentum. To date, 126 agricultural and food products from 14 CEECs have gained market access, with a cumulative total of 3,430 foreign agricultural enterprises registered.
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Customs Release. The Customs Release version shall prevail.