通關便利化，為發展亮綠燈

□ 文/黎敏

通關便利化，為發展亮綠燈

□ 文/黎敏

編者按：在深化北部灣經濟區改革的藍圖上，一體化是當前工作的重點。無論是戶籍一體化、法制一體化還是交通一體化都更強調經濟區內各市的齊頭并進。而廣西北部灣經濟區作為沿邊開放開發的前沿，其通關的一體化、便利化也勢必在經濟區的一體化工作中占有舉足輕重的地位。口岸是對外往來的門戶，是國際貨物運輸的樞紐。便利的口岸通關，就如同給國際貿易發展開啟綠燈，讓經貿往來之路通行順暢。

廣西地處中國華南、西南經濟圈與東盟經濟圈的結合部，是中國西部地區海、陸、空、內河口岸唯一齊全的省區，也是中國通向東盟國家最便捷的陸路和海上通道。而北部灣經濟區作為廣西與東盟交通貿易往來的重要門戶，經濟區內的口岸順不順暢，通關便利與否，不僅僅關乎經濟區內的貿易發展，也將影響相鄰經濟腹地資源的流動程度和中國—東盟自由貿易區內市場的自由度。因此，北部灣經濟區于2014年末發布了《廣西北部灣經濟區口岸通關一體化工作方案》，以推進經濟區內口岸通關一體化，打造“六市一關”，力促通關便利化，為經濟區發展進入快車道亮起綠燈。

更系統、更規范、更專業

北部灣經濟區內的口岸涉及的口岸數量和類型都比較多。按照傳統的通關模式，中國內地企業進出口貨物，需要在企業所在地和貨物進出口岸兩次報關，而且只能通過報關關口通行，有時還要受到各個檢查單位的重復檢查，填報大量內容幾乎相同的表格，通關的手續比較繁雜，大大阻滯了廣西口岸的物流速度。因此，要實現通關便利化，還得從解決經濟區內的通關一體化問題上入手。

通關一體化是指在一個大通關協作區域內，在跨關區快速通關的基礎上，通過建立虛擬的區域數據平臺，實施“選擇申報，多點放行，統一平臺，區域聯動，聯檢互動”的一體化新模式，最終實現“一次申報，一次查驗，一次放行”，即關檢合作的“三個一”。在推進關檢合作“三個一”改革的工作中，北部灣經濟區積極先行先試，崇左市的憑祥友誼關成為了廣西境內首批試點口岸。

根據相關改革試點實施方案，企業今后在友誼關口岸報關時，只需通過“一次申報”客戶端一次錄入所有申報數據，并分別向海關、檢驗檢疫局發送，即可完成報關、報檢電子數據的申報；海關、檢驗檢疫部門需要對同一批貨物實施查驗、檢驗檢疫的，則按照各自的職責共同實施“一次查驗”，對于信息對碰不成功的貨物，相關部門再各自進行檢驗檢疫和查驗；檢驗檢疫、海關部門通過“三個一”平臺發出放行信息后，企業就能憑信息辦理貨物的提離手續。如此一來，就能減少企業的報關次數、被查驗和開箱的次數，有效提高通關效率，促進口岸通關的便利化。

不過通關一體化是一個系統工程，它不但要求經濟區內各個口岸之間加強密切配合，加強關關協作，還要求海關、邊防、檢驗檢疫、海事等查驗部門以及口岸管理部門、對外貿易生產、經營與服務企業以及稅務、銀行、外匯管理等多個部門的通力合作。對于北部灣經濟區而言，通力合作不應該僅僅局限于各個口岸城市，更應該是經濟區內一體化的協同合作。這需要決策者以更開放的思維、站在更高的角度，將北部灣經濟區作為一個整體進行頂層設計，以制度規范，以行動示范，為經濟區內各市、各部門之間的協同合作提供有力保障。

除此之外，通關的便利化還需要交通基礎設施、信息化平臺等硬件作為配套。長期以來，由于經濟發展相對滯后，廣西北部灣經濟區內各口岸的基礎設施建設和信息化水平與發達地區的口岸相比還有一定的差距。但在中國沿邊開放開發、中國—東盟自貿區升級版和21世紀“海上絲綢之路”建設的大潮中，北部灣經濟區正著力布局立體化的交通網絡，擴能改造沿邊、沿海鐵道路段，推行高速公路ETC不停車收費體系，以交通的一體化促進通關的便利化。

當然，通關的便利化不僅僅是通關效率上的提高，也需要邊檢部門在服務水平上“保量又保質”。2015年1月，中國友誼關邊檢站與越南友誼國際口岸邊防屯舉行了聯合提高邊檢服務水平工作的簽字暨啟動儀式。中越雙方承諾將聯合提高邊檢服務水平，并推出簡化雙邊人員邊檢手續、開通跨境直通車專用通道、開通鮮活農產品綠色通道、建立口岸流量聯動平衡驗放機制、提供出入境貨車延時通關服務、保障旅客權益、建立跨境救助機制等一系列便民利民的措施，通過國際合作的形式在提升邊檢服務水平、促進通關便利化上邁出了扎實的一步。

通關便利化，打通經濟發展的便捷通道

廣西北部灣經濟區內六市具有沿邊、沿海的區位優勢，也是中國對接東盟的橋頭堡。自中國—東盟自貿區正式建成以來，中國與東盟的經貿往來更為密切，雙邊貿易額急劇擴大，對于東盟國家而言，中國是一個充滿機遇與挑戰的大市場，對于中國而言，東盟國家也是中國從區域市場走向國際市場的重要站點與產業轉移的承接地。你來我往間，國家和區域對于中國這個西南大門的通關效率自然寄予了極大的期望。

隨著中國—東盟自貿區升級版談判的不斷推進，雙邊貿易的飛速發展，通關的便利化也將給廣西和北部灣經濟區帶來旅游、邊貿、城市建設等一系列難得的發展機遇。

從人員的通關便利化來看，東盟國家的出境游已經炙手可熱，經濟區內的跨境游、自駕游也方興未艾。人員通關流程的簡化、通關時間的縮短，無疑是帶熱東盟國家旅游和沿邊、跨境游的又一催化劑。東南亞風情、廣西區內少數民族風情、展會游等精品路線的開發、自駕游游客休閑度假基地的建設將給旅行機構、酒店度假等相關行業的公司、企業帶來新的商機。

從貨物的通關便利來說，市場經濟環境下，企業以效率為先，高效的通關模式才是聚集人才、信息流、資金流、貨物流的優勢所在。目前北部灣經濟區內的一些口岸因通關效率較低導致的交通擁堵、貨物破損率較高等問題，是部分外貿企業不愿選擇經濟區內口岸進行通關的一大原因。

隨著北部灣經濟區內通關一體化工作的不斷推進，這些問題有望迎刃而解。當更多外貿企業選擇通過北部灣經濟區內的口岸走向東盟甚至世界市場時，資源的流動和聚集將為口岸城市提供發展過路加工工業的機會，在帶動就業的同時，通過產業創收為城市建設提供經濟基礎。

目前，廣西正積極打造中國西南、中南新的戰略支點，經濟腹地的優勢資源加上廣西區內不斷提升的通關效率，廣西北部灣經濟區未來的發展將是如虎添翼、錦上添花的大好趨勢。也正因為通關便利化對于廣西北部灣經濟區整體的發展和一體化具有極為重要的意義，所以，在經濟區深化改革發展的規劃藍圖上，通關便利化被擺在了十分顯著的位置。

在明確了通關便利化重要性的前提下，北部灣經濟區內各市需要以更開放的視野、更團結的協作，扎實地推動經濟區內的通關一體化及便利化工作，讓廣西北部灣經濟區早日成為中國與東盟經貿、人員往來的便捷通道。

Port is a portal of a country’s foreign exchange as well as a hub of international transport of goods. The efficient customs clearance gives the green light to international trade development and makes the road of economic and trade exchanges unimpeded.

Situated in the conjuncture of South China Economic Rim, Southwest China Economic Rim and ASEAN Economic Rim, being the only region in western China integrating sea, land, air and inland ports, Guangxi is China’s most convenient land and sea access to ASEAN countries. Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone (BGEZ) serves as a crucial portal of trade exchanges between Guangxi and ASEAN. Its efficiency of customs clearance matters the trade development in BGEZ, resources flows of its neighboring economic hinterland and market freedom within the CAFTA. Therefore, the BGEZ launched the Work Plan for the Integration of Port Customs Clearance in Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone in late 2014, to advance port customs clearance integration in the region, to make efforts to realize “one-time check in six cities”, to promote the facilitation of customs clearance and give BGEZ green light to enter the fast lane.

More Systematic, Standardized and Professional

There are many ports and various port types in BGEZ. According to the traditional mode of customs clearance, imported and exported goods in Chinese mainland must be declared to customs in the place where the enterprise is registered and the port where the goods is checked. The goods is only allowed to pass through designated ports, sometimes suffers from multiple check and is required to fi ll out all kinds of similar forms. The complicated customs clearance procedures greatly hampered the speed of port logistics in Guangxi. Hence, the integration of port customs clearance is needed so as to achieve customs clearance facilitation.

The integration of customs clearance means to establish a virtual regional data platform on the basis of diff erent customs areas and fast customs clearance, thus to implement a new integration mode of “multi-point declaration and release, unified platform, regional linkage and joint inspection”, and achieve “one-time declaration, one-time check and one-time release”, namely, the “Three One-time”in customs declaration and inspection cooperation. The BGEZ is a pioneer and leader to promote the “Three One-time”reform. Friendship Pass in Pingxiang of Chongzuo city became one of the first batch of pilot ports in Guangxi.

According to related pilot reform plan, at Friendship Pass, when enterprises enter declared data in “one-time declaration” client and send them to designated recipients, the electronic data of customs declaration will be completed.“One-time check” will be carried out when different departments need to inspect the same batch of goods. Enterprises will proceed to customs base on the information provided by “Three Onetime” platform. As a result, the number of declaration, check and unpacking inspection will be reduced, which would greatly improve the effi ciency and promote the facilitation of port customs clearance.

The integration of customs clearance is a systematic project. It not only requires a closer coordination of all ports in the BGEZ, but also the cooperation among checking departments like customs, border defense, inspection and quarantine, and maritime aff airs, and port administration departments, foreign trade enterprises, as well as banks, tax administration and foreign exchange administration departments. For the BGEZ, the cooperation should not be restricted in port cities, but be an integrated and coordinated cooperation within the region. This requires the decision-makers to take the BGEZ as a whole and make top-level designs with more open thinking and a higher-level point of view, and to establish institutional norms for the region and provide a guarantee for the coordination of cities and departments in the BGEZ.

Apart from that, the facilitation of customs clearance also calls for the support of transportation infrastructure and informatization platforms. For a long time, the transportation infrastructure and informatization platforms of ports inthe BGEZ lag behind those developed regions due to their lagging economic development. However, in the trend of China’s border opening-up and the construction of the upgraded CAFTA and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, the BGEZ is putting forth eff ects in establishing a 3D transportation network, expanding and rebuilding border and coastal railway sections, and practicing highway non-stop ETC systems, so as to promote customs clearance facilitation via transportation integration.

Facilitation of customs clearance, with no doubt, is reflected not only in efficiency, but also in the high-quality services provided by border control departments. In January, 2015, the signing and launching ceremony for a joint work to raise border check services was held by China’s Friendship Pass border checkpoint and the border station of Vietnam’s International Friendship Border Gate. Both sides promised to jointly improve border check services and unveiled a series of measurements for the convenience of people, i.e., simplifying personnel border check procedures, opening restricted lanes for cross-border direct trains and green channels for fresh agricultural products, establishing linked checking mechanisms for port traffic, providing delayed customs clearance services for exit-entry vans; safeguarding traveler’s interests, and setting up crossborder assistance mechanisms, so as to improve border check services and promote customs clearance facilitation through international cooperation.

Facilitation of Customs Clearance Opens up a“Convenient Channel” for Economic Development

The six cities in the BGEZ, lying at the border and coastal areas, enjoy great location advantages, and serve as the gateway between China and ASEAN. Ever since the establishment of CAFTA, China and ASEAN have witnessed closer economic and trade contacts as bilateral trade volume has expanded sharply. For the ASEAN countries, China is a huge market full of opportunities and challenges. For China, the ASEAN countries are important stops to enter the international market as well as the destinations for its industrial transformation. In the contacts between the two sides, the BGEZ, the southwest gate of China, is expected to have higher customs clearance effi ciency.

The advance of the negotiations on CAFTA, the rapid development of bilateral trade, together with the facilitation of customs clearance, will bring god-given opportunities for tourism, border trade and city construction of Guangxi and the BGEZ.

In terms of personnel customs clearance, outbound travel to ASEAN is very hot. Cross-border and self-driving travel are also in the ascendant in the BGEZ. The simplified personnel customs clearance procedures and shortened customs clearance are undoubtedly another catalyst for ASEAN’s tourism as well as China’s border tourism. The open of Southeast Asia tourism routes, Guangxi’s ethnic custom and exhibition tourism routes, as well as the construction of resorts for self-driving travelers will bring new business opportunities for travel agencies, hotels and other relevant enterprises.

As far as customs clearance for goods is concerned, in the market-oriented economy, efficiency is the first priority of enterprises. High-efficient customs clearance is conducive to attracting people, information, capital and goods. Currently, some of the ports in the BGEZ have low effi ciency in customs clearance, which has led to problems like traffic congestion and goods damage. This is one of the major reasons why some foreign trade enterprises are not willing to be cleared by ports in the BGEZ.

With the advancement of the integration of customs clearance in the BGEZ, these problems are expected to be readily solved. When more foreign trade enterprises choose to enter the ASEAN and even world market via ports in the BGEZ, the flow and accumulation of resources would provide opportunities for processing industries, providing economic basis for port cities, and driving the employment at the same time.

At present, Guangxi is trying to build itself into a new strategic pivot in southwestern China and south central China. Owing to the superior resources in the economic hinterland, and the continuously rising customs clearance effi ciency in Guangxi, the BGEZ is bound to enjoy a better future. Since the facilitation of customs clearance is of great significance to the overall development and integration of the BGEZ, it is placed at the most prominent position in the blue print of the region’s in-depth reform and development.

In the condition that the importance of customs clearance facilitation is clarified, cities in the BGEZ need to promote the integration and facilitation of customs clearance in the region with a more open view and more coordinated cooperation, making the BGEZ the “convenient channel”for the economic and personnel exchanges between China and ASEAN.

Facilitation of Customs Clearance to Give Green Light for Development

written by Li Min / translated by Gao Qianqian, Ma Jinyu