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E-mail China.org.cn, February 24, 2025
Speakers:
Mr. Wang Lingjun, vice minister of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC)
Mr. Lyu Daliang, spokesperson of the GACC and director general of the Department of Statistics and Analysis of the GACC
Mr. Lin Shaobin, deputy director general of the Department of General Operation of the GACC
Chairperson:
Ms. Xing Huina, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO
Date:
Jan. 13, 2025
Xing Huina:
Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO), as part of the series "High-Quality Development Achievements of China's Economy." Today, we have invited Mr. Wang Lingjun, vice minister of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), to brief you on China's import and export performance in 2024, and to answer your questions. Also present today are Mr. Lyu Daliang, spokesperson of the GACC and director general of the Department of Statistics and Analysis of the GACC; and Mr. Lin Shaobin, deputy director general of the Department of General Operation of the GACC.
Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Wang for his introduction.
Wang Lingjun:
Thank you, Ms. Xing. Friends from the media, happy new year. Welcome to today's press conference. I would like to express my utmost gratitude to you for your long-term interest in and support for China's customs work.
Let me begin with a customs declaration form — the last of the 88.38 million forms processed in 2024. This form was for a batch of translation earbuds shipped from Shenzhen to Japan. While the shipment's value was modest, it marked the successful conclusion of China's foreign trade in 2024.
In 2024, under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China's foreign trade achieved remarkable results, securing increases in total volume and increment, as well as improvements in quality. In terms of total volume, we consecutively surpassed the 42 trillion yuan ($5.74 trillion) and 43 trillion yuan thresholds. Last year, the total value of imports and exports set a record high of 43.85 trillion yuan, up 5% year on year. China's position as the world's largest trader of goods has been even further strengthened. China has become a major trading partner for more than 150 countries and regions, with its circle of friends in foreign trade getting larger. In terms of increment, China's foreign trade grew by 2.1 trillion yuan in 2024 — equivalent to the total annual foreign trade volume of a mid-sized country. Currently, our foreign trade growth rate also remains one of the fastest among the world's major economies. In terms of quality, the structure of imports and exports was continuously improved and upgraded. Exports of high-tech products showed strong momentum and of independently branded goods reached record highs, while new forms of trade such as cross-border e-commerce flourished.
These achievements did not come easily. In 2024, China's foreign trade grew steadily and its quality improved. This progress was fundamentally ensured by the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, who fully assessed the situation and implemented a suite of incremental policies in a timely manner, adopting a full range of policies to stabilize and promote foreign trade growth. At the same time, these accomplishments would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of all localities and departments, as well as the hard work of thousands upon thousands of foreign trade practitioners.
Customs authorities have been not only observers and recorders of China's foreign trade development, but also active participants and enablers. In 2024, China's customs departments supervised 5.603 billion metric tons of imported and exported goods, and 39.917 million vehicle crossings. Facing the huge flow of people and goods, we have remained committed to our most basic and important responsibility of safeguarding the national border. Through the Smart Customs initiative, we have built a modern regulatory framework, intercepting epidemics and diseases, prohibited items, and substandard goods at the border. By firmly upholding the safety bottom line and regulatory red line, we have safeguarded national and public interests, ensuring high-quality development with high-level security.
We have kept in mind the primary importance of high-quality development in the new era, introducing and implementing 16 measures for enterprises to facilitate customs clearance in a bid to further improve the business environment at ports. Moreover, we have introduced hundreds of measures to support coordinated regional development strategies, such as the full revitalization of Northeast China, the efforts to accelerate the rise of the central region, and the efforts to make further progress in the large-scale development of the western region in the new era. By doing so, we aim to enhance the combined effect of the policies. We have launched special initiatives in 20 cities to facilitate cross-border trade, aiming at fostering a market-oriented, law-based, international and world-class business environment at ports. We have deepened innovation of customs supervision systems, and fully supported innovative development of various open platforms such as the Hainan Free Trade Port and the Hainan Pilot Free Trade Zone, with the aim of promoting high-quality development through high-level opening up.
Going forward, we will act in accordance with the guidelines of the Central Economic Work Conference, pursuing progress while maintaining stability, and promoting stability through progress. We will work diligently and proactively to accelerate the development of intelligent customs and carry out the "Smart Customs, Strong Nation" initiative. We will promote reform with greater force, ensure safety with stricter supervision, stabilize foreign trade with more practical measures, and promote opening up with higher standards. We will bear the duty of safeguarding borders and promoting development, reassuring the Party and satisfying the needs of the people.
That concludes my introduction. Now, my colleagues and I are happy to take your questions. Thank you.
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