In December 2007, the largest bonded port area in China—the first phase of Tianjin Dongjiang Bonded Port Area was completed successfully and put into operation. Dongjiang Bonded Port Area is not only the result of the comprehensive and experimental reforms implemented in the Binhai New Area, but also a “golden seed” for the pilot field of Binhai New Area reforms. It will become a new growth engine for the development of the Binhai New Area.

The Dongjiang Bonded Port Area is 10 square kilometers in size, being the largest one in China. The first-phase of the bonded port area occupied a space of four square kilometers. It will draw experience from development models adopted by international free trade zone, extending the five functions of international transfer, global distribution, international procurement, international trade transit and export processing. Priorities will go for modern logistics, import-export processing, manufacturing industry and various service industries.

On May 26, 2006, it is pointed out in State Council’s Opinions on Issues Concerning Opening-up and Development of Tianjin Binhai New Area that the nation will promote the opening-up of Tianjin Binhai New Area and establish Tianjin Dongjiang Bonded Port Area.

The State Council states in Ratification Concerning the Establishment of Tianjin Dongjiang Bonded Port Area that: basing on related requirements of pilot area construction with comprehensive and experimental reform, the Port Area can have a trial on some essential reform measures with regard to mechanism and system innovation. Moreover, it should draw on international practices, actively researching the innovative management system of special areas supervised by Customs, studying selected sites to promote overall work, and pushing forward integration of special areas supervised by Customs.

Dongjiang Bonded Port Area combines functions of bonded area, export-processing area and bonded logistics area. It is entitled to adopt all policies for development area, bonded area and high-tech industrial park. Meanwhile, it can also fully enjoy national preferential policies on tax, port supervision and foreign exchange management.

For the time being, the Dongjiang Bonded Port Area has entered a period of rapid development. Accumulative investment in infrastructure has exceeded 12 billion yuan, creating land as large as 25 square kilometers. As project construction is concerned, Asia-Pacific international pier with a designed yearly handling capacity of 4 million containers has been completed and put into operation. Up to now, the handling capacity of the pier has reached 1.19 million standard containers.

By the end of May, 2009, there have been 165 domestic enterprises and 17 foreign ones registered in Dongjiang Bonded Port Area, with investment exceeding 2.6 billion yuan and US$100 million respectively. Enterprises like Schneider Logistic from the US, Mapletree from Singapore and China Merchants Group have completed registration and started operation. A great number of large-scale logistics and import-export value-added processing projects are under negotiation.

Until the current moment, well-equipped single and double-deck warehouses have been built up within the logistics and processing area, covering a space of 350,000 square meters. Running through the Bonded Area from north to south, the trunk road of America Avenue has seen its first-stage forestation project wrapped up. Three roads penetrating the Bonded Area from east to west and four from north to south have opened for traffic in the area. The man-made beach at the east part of the Bonded Area has also finished construction and opened for the public. The passenger liner harbor, the five-star hotel and auxiliary residence are subjects to finishing touches. Other projects, such as the marine-railway transit center and the grocery pier of North Harbor are busy under construction.

Dongjiang Bonded Port Area is a significant part of the opening-up campaign in the Binhai New Area, an important component of the comprehensive and experimental reform and also an indispensable part of the Tianjin Port, the fifth largest port in the world. Dongjiang Bonded Port Area takes the historical mission of reforming and opening-up and innovation-oriented development. Aiming to become a free trade zone in its true nature, Dongjiang Bonded Port Area is actively exploring a road of free trade zone construction with Chinese characteristics.