Ningbo Customs Drives Customs cooperation between China and CEECs, Achieving Signature "3-2-1" Outcomes

 

 

A landmark Joint Declaration on Cooperation between APACCCEEC and the China-CEEC Customs Information Center was formally signed in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, on October 17, which marks the successful launch of the first inter-agency cooperation project between Ningbo Customs and a body under the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The Joint Declaration represents another recent breakthrough in Ningbo Customs’ international collaboration efforts, paving the way for smoother communication channels to boost imports of agricultural and food products from Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs).

Looking back on the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Ningbo Customs has closely followed the national strategy of high-level opening-up, continuously strengthening the China-CEEC Customs information cooperation initiative. By actively promoting Customs information sharing and trade facilitation, it has helped expand imports of goods from CEECs. Achieving significant progress in information sharing, institutional dialogue, inter-Customs cooperation, and trade facilitation, Ningbo Customs has delivered a strong performance report for the 14th Five-Year Plan period, built on three major diplomatic events hosted in China, two robust cooperation mechanisms, and a central "information hub", thereby consistently injecting the "Customs momentum" from Alayongguan into China-CEEC cooperation.

Three Major Home-Front Diplomatic Events Yield Concrete Outcomes

 

 

 

 

The 7th China-CEEC Dialogue on Customs, Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation concluded successfully in Ningbo on May 22 to 23. Centered on the theme "Smart Customs, Safe Agricultural Food, Sustainable Trade", the Dialogue brought together delegates from Customs, inspection and quarantine authorities of nine CEECs, as well as representatives from the EU Chamber of Commerce. In-depth discussions were held on a range of issues, including the development of Smart Customs initiatives, quarantine access procedures for agri-food products, and the establishment of streamlined “fast track” for such agri-food products.

 

 

 

 

Against the backdrop of continuously expanding international trade, the cross-border flow of goods, capital and people has grown significantly more dynamic.Port of Ningbo now operates 12 shipping routes linking key CEEC ports such as Piraeus in Greece and Gdańsk in Poland. This has fostered a shared recognition of the need to enhance mutual policy exchange in inspection and quarantine and to raise the level of Customs clearance and trade facilitation.

Building on Ningbo's role as the permanent seat of the China-CEEC Dialogue on Customs, Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation, Ningbo Customs successfully organized three editions of the event during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, resulting in a total of 11 tangible cooperation outcomes. Serving as a key home-front platform for Customs collaboration with the CEEC region, Ningbo Customs has placed high priority on the Dialogue’s role in fostering consensus and supporting China’s broader opening-up strategy. It has worked closely with the General Administration of Customs in preparatory efforts, put forward substantive proposals, and taken proactive steps, including championing the introduction of a “fast track” for the exports of CEEC goods to China into the Dialogue’s agenda, thereby playing an instrumental role in enhancing the outcomes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Robust Cooperation Mechanisms Deepen Engagement

 

 

 

 

To translate the Dialogue's outcomes into concrete action, Ningbo Customs, under the guidance of the General Administration of Customs, facilitated the launch ofChina-CEEC Information Sharing and Liaison Mechanism, a dedicated platform for Customs inspection and quarantine cooperation. This initiative has institutionalized day-to-day communication channels between the sides in the inspection and quarantine domain. A dedicated foreign affairs team, equipped with language proficiency, professional competence, and international cooperation experience, was formed to officially integrate counterparts from Customs and relevant inspection and quarantine authorities of the CEEC regioninto a direct-contact network.Through regular policy analysis and correspondence, this mechanism has sharpened China's understanding of the latest EU trade and Customs policies, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and the Regulation on Deforestation-free Products. It has also served as a conduit for sharing China's "Smart Customs" advancements, enabling two-way information flow with overseas partners, speeding up responses to their inquiries, and ultimately helping to build trust, narrow differences, and facilitate trade.

 

 

 

 

Building on this foundation, Ningbo Customs conducted a multi-dimensional analysis - assessing diplomatic relations, logistics conditions, business volume, and cooperation compatibility - to thoroughly investigate viable pathways for implementing a new type of inter-agency collaboration between Chinese Customs and foreign agricultural authorities. This led to proactive discussions with institutions such as the Association for the Promotion of Agricultural Cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European Countries (APACCCEEC) under the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Foodto explore potential cooperation. With support from the Department of International Cooperation of the General Administration of Customs, a partnership between the China-CEEC Customs Information Center  (hereinafter referred to as the "Information Center") and the Association was successfully established, creating fresh pathways for bilateral collaboration.

 

 

 

 

A Central "Information Hub" Fosters a Bridge of Trust

In 2021, under a mandate from the General Administration of Customs, Ningbo Customs was tasked with establishing and operating the China-CEEC Customs Information Center. Designed as a one-stop information service platform, the Center is built around three core functions, namely the facilitation of policy information exchange, the provision of expert consultation, and the implementation of monitoring and early-warning systems, to directly serve the needs of Customs, inspection and quarantine authorities, and businesses. Its comprehensive suite of nine modules provides access to areas including Laws & Regulations, Clearance Guides, SPS Information, Monitoring & Early Warning, and Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) Information.

 

 

 

 

Over the past four years, the official website of Information Center has continuously refined its features and expanded its content through ongoing research and user engagement, steadily increasing its reach and impact. As of the third quarter of this year, the platform had published a total of 23,900 entries in both Chinese and English, accumulating over 4.5 million visits. It has effectively processed numerous inquiries from exporters and commercial counsellors in Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, and other CEECs covering topics such as product eligibility and Customs clearance procedures. Through consistent communication and reliable information exchange, the Information Center has cemented itself as a trusted bridge linking participating countries.

 

 

 

 

Building on the capabilities of Information Center, Ningbo Customs has introduced a series of measuresincluding a dedicated "fast track" for imported CEEC goodsto further expand imports from CEEC region. In 2021, the Customs established a "Special Channel for Import of CEEC Commodities", providing enterprises with professional clearance guidance and issue resolution. In 2023, it launched the pioneering application scenario of “the One-stop Service for Imports from CEEC”, enabling integrated, full-process navigation for policy inquiries and Customs procedures, whileproviding a clearer roadmap for businesses to navigate the service process. In 2025, the Application Scenario for “Access Information of Agri-Food Products Exported to China from CEECs”was further introduced, aggregating information on approved agri-food products and their registered manufacturers from CEECs. This one-stop query function addresses a key concern for enterprises through a targeted solution, tangibly enhancing trade facilitation.

 

 

 

 

From January to September this year, Ningbo’sChina-CEEC Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone recorded a total import-export value of 45.45 billion yuan with CEECs, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.0 percent. Since the DemonstrationZone was inaugurated in 2018, its cumulative import-export volume has reached 311.05 billion yuan, achieving an average annual growth rate of 17.2 percent.

As China embarks on the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Ningbo Customs will continue to serve as a vital bridge and link, by upholding an open and inclusive approach to write new chapters in Customs cooperation between China and CEECs and contribute more Customs models and practices from Alayongguan to the nation’s high-level opening-up strategy.(By Ding Xiaojin, Wang Fei)

 

 

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Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Alayongguan. The Alayongguan version shall prevail.