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31.Tianjin builds inland water-free ports to serve and support economic development of inland regions
http://www.tj-summerdavos.cn 2014-09-08 19:49

In October 2004, Tianjin signed a Memorandum of Quick Transfer of Customs in Tianjin-Hebei Port with Hebei Province, which undrawn the prelude of building water-free ports. The Municipality hammered out a Tianjin Protocol on Trans-regional Port Co-operation with 12 inland provinces and regions in April of 2005, setting up a long-term mechanism for port cooperation. In November 2005, Tianjin Municipal Government and the General Administration of Customs reached a common recognition to strengthen cooperation in terms of improving cooperation mechanism and facilitating the setting-up of inland “water-free port”. In July 2007, Tianjin signed a Memorandum of Building Simplified Customs Formalities in Northern Area and Letter of Intent for Building Inland Water-free Ports with different provinces, cities and regions, which laid the foundation for promoting the construction of waterless ports.

Until now, Tianjin has built ten inland water-free ports, jointly with Beijing Chaoyang and Pinggu Districts, Houma of Shanxi Province, Dezhou of Shandong Province, Shijiazhuang of Hebei Province, Zhengzhou of He'nan Province, Baotou and Erenhot of Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, Huinong and Yinchuan of Ningxia Autonomous Region. To extend the functions of sea port to inland region and to share its own advantages, Tianjin aims to serve the whole country and promote the economic development of different regions.

Tianjin Port is located at the most western point of the Bohai Sea. Capable of serving Tianjin Municipality, North, Northwest and Northeast China, the harbor boasts of unique regional advantage and typical regional cooperative opportunities. Tianjin Port has established sound cooperation with inland region. Over 70 percent of goods and more than 50 percent of trade volume of Tianjin Port stem from central and western areas of the country.

The Binhai New Area has been included into the national overall development strategy, which provides a new opportunity for regional cooperation of Tianjin Port. Tianjin Communist Party Committee and Tianjin Municipal Government have issued the order of “building water-free ports and implementing simplified Customs formalities” in response to the actual market situation.

Through building water-free ports, inland areas can get virtual access to the sea. The Customs clearance mode at water-free ports has altered the traditional approach that inland goods have to be declared at the port or to be declared twice because of the transfer of Customs. Adopting the practice of “declaring once, inspecting once and discharging” at the water-free ports simplifies procedures, improves efficiency and also saves cost as well. The operation data from waterless port shows that logistics running time in water-free port is reduced by 1 to 2 days in central region and 3 to 4 days in western area; the overall logistic cost has also been cut by 20 percent.

The construction of water-free ports has helped extend the functions of sea ports, which further extends the area covered by its service and enhance its impact. These measures help the port serve and support the development of regional economy effectively. With the construction of water-free ports, the perfection of the network and the improvement of port function, information-oriented e-port function and bonded zone function, Tianjin Port will soon witness the expansion and extension of its operation and influence.

Source:Enorth.com.cn

Editor: Zhang Jialu
Annual Meeting of the New Champions Tianjin Preparatory Office