To further implement the spirit of the “Several Opinions of the State Council on Promoting High-Level Opening-Up and High-Quality Development of Comprehensive Bonded Zones” (State Council Document [2019] No. 3) and the deployment requirements set forth in the “Letter from the General Administration of Customs on Issuing Comprehensive Reform Measures to Promote High-Quality Development of Comprehensive Bonded Zones” (GAC Trade Letter [2023] No. 155), and to accelerate the full utilization of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone’s role, the enhancement of its functions, and its innovative development, this Implementation Plan is formulated in light of actual conditions.
I. General Approach
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and thoroughly carry out General Secretary Xi Jinping’s strategic directives for Guangxi. In accordance with the work arrangements of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 12th Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Party Committee and the Seventh Plenary Session of the Sixth Qinzhou Municipal Party Committee, we will seize the important opportunity presented by the General Administration of Customs’ series of comprehensive reform measures to accelerate the resolution of development challenges and bottlenecks in the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone. We will promote the improvement of policies, expansion of functions,streamline procedures, optimize workflows, improve institutional frameworks, and enhance performance. This will better support enterprises in leveraging both domestic and international markets and resources, and better serve the construction of Qinzhou as a hub for the dual domestic and international circulation as well as the high-quality development of an open economy.
II. Main Tasks
(1) Optimize Regulatory Services to Promote Business Development and Prosperity.
1. Optimize inspection and quarantine operations. First, classify goods within the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, reasonably configure inspection and quarantine procedures, and improve inspection and quarantine facilities to meet the requirements of, in principle, “single inspection” and the “front-loading and back-shifting” of inspection and quarantine in terms of time and space;Second, explore allowing bulk bonded goods such as grain, mineral products, and timber to be directly picked up at the port and transported to the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone for inspection and quarantine after completing necessary port inspection and quarantine measures; Third, actively seek approval from the General Administration of Customs to pilot reforms in the inspection and supervision model for imported recycled aluminum raw materials, supporting the China-Malaysia “Two Countries, Two Parks” cross-border industrial chain cooperation in recycled aluminum.(Responsible Departments: Bureau of Institutional Innovation and Bureau of Trade and Logistics Development of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Qinzhou Customs shall be responsible according to their respective duties; Completion Deadline: Before December 2024)
2. Simplify procedures for releasing production equipment from customs supervision. First, for machinery and equipment imported from abroad by enterprises within the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone that do not require removal from the zone after being released from supervision, the requirement to submit permits upon entry will continue to be waived, maintaining the current regulations;Second, for machinery and equipment imported from abroad by enterprises within the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone that require removal from the zone after release from supervision, enterprises may submit the required permits either upon removal from the zone or upon entry; if submitted upon entry, they will not be verified again upon removal;Third, building on the above, leverage information technology to comprehensively track the entry and exit information of machinery and equipment for enterprises within the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone. For machinery and equipment whose supervision period has expired, the system will automatically lift supervision and process adjustments to the equipment ledger, exempting enterprises from the need to file declarations. (Responsible Departments: Qinzhou Customs; the Trade and Logistics Development Bureau of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone shall be responsible according to their respective duties; Completion Deadline: Before June 2024)
3. Optimize the ledger management model. First, promote the development and improvement of information management systems among warehousing and logistics enterprises and processing trade enterprises within the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone; second, select high-level certified warehousing and logistics enterprises within the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone that have well-developed information systems, and promote the integration of their warehouse management systems with the customs network to achieve “automatic comparison and verification” of cargo flows and information flows.(Responsible Departments: Trade and Logistics Development Bureau and Digital Development Management Center of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Qinzhou Customs, in accordance with their respective responsibilities; Completion Deadline: Ongoing)
4. Implement differentiated risk prevention and control. First, given the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone’s existing checkpoint and physical perimeter fence management, as well as the relatively stable nature and lower risk profile of enterprises within the zone, regulatory resources will be prioritized toward overall enterprise management, thereby reducing the interception of individual shipments at checkpoints;Second, promote standardized operations and integrity among enterprises within the zone. For high-level certified enterprises with good credit standing, comprehensive information systems, and computer-linked management with customs, further reduce inspection rates and improve clearance efficiency. (Responsible Departments: Qinzhou Customs; the Trade and Logistics Development Bureau of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone shall be responsible according to their respective duties; Completion Deadline: By June 2024)
5. Optimize measures for the release of release orders.First, actively coordinate with higher-level customs authorities to optimize the release order verification logic in the Golden Customs Phase II system, accelerating the ability to simultaneously link a single release order to both the summary declaration customs declaration under the “two-step declaration” system and the corresponding verification list for standard declaration types; Second, restore and optimize the “Zone-Port Linkage” business module in the auxiliary management system, leveraging the geographical advantage of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone’s direct connection to the port to explore the seamless transfer of bonded goods between port supervision and bonded supervision phases;Third, accelerate the implementation of consolidated entry into the zone and co-transportation of “two-step declaration” goods with standard declaration goods to reduce enterprises’ logistics costs. (Responsible Departments: Trade and Logistics Development Bureau and Institutional Innovation Bureau of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Qinzhou Customs is responsible according to its respective duties; Completion Deadline: Before December 2024)
6. Optimize the process for goods entering and exiting the zone under the “single bill of lading, multiple vehicles” model. Accelerate the updating and iteration of supporting management systems, expand the scope of enterprises and commodities eligible for the “consolidated declaration, separate delivery” clearance model pilot, and strive to extend the coverage of this clearance model to both the first-line and second-line entry and exit points of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone.(Responsible Departments: Trade and Logistics Development Bureau and Digital Development Management Center of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Qinzhou Customs, in accordance with their respective responsibilities; Completion Deadline: By December 2024)
7. Deepen facilitation measures for Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) enterprises. First, vigorously promote the cultivation of “Authorized Economic Operators” (AEOs), guide eligible enterprises in applying for AEO certification, implement preferential treatment based on the credit status of AEO enterprises, and provide greater convenience to AEO enterprises; second, for newly established R&D, design, and processing/manufacturing enterprises that are assessed as meeting relevant standards, explore the possibility of directly granting them the highest credit rating;Third, implement measures to exempt AEOs from providing guarantees for the “split shipment and consolidated declaration” business, further reducing enterprises’ operating costs. (Responsible Departments: Qinzhou Customs; the Trade and Logistics Development Bureau and the Institutional Innovation Bureau of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone, to be responsible according to their respective duties; Completion Deadline: Before December 2024)
8. Optimize classified supervision operations. First, formulate and optimize management systems for “classified supervision of warehouse goods based on status,” strengthen guidance and services for approval matters, pre-approval reviews, and follow-up supervision, and improve enterprise entry and exit mechanisms; second, promote the implementation of on-site transfer functions for non-bonded and bonded goods within the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, allowing direct adjustments to customs ledger balances after customs clearance procedures are completed, without requiring the actual movement of goods through checkpoints;Third, establish an information-sharing platform based on the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone’s joint supervision mechanism to share data on the entry and exit of goods under classified supervision with the competent authorities, thereby achieving joint prevention and control. (Responsible Departments: Qinzhou Customs; the Trade and Logistics Development Bureau, the Institutional Innovation Bureau, the Comprehensive Law Enforcement Bureau, and the Emergency Management Bureau of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone shall be responsible according to their respective duties; Completion Deadline: Ongoing)
9. Optimize ledger clearance operations. First, identify pain points and challenges in ledger clearance operations within the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, and manage them according to operational workflows such as ledger establishment, suspension, clearance, and cancellation to facilitate enterprise operations; second, implement streamlined clearance management for logistics ledgers to further promote the development of bonded logistics operations.(Responsible Departments: Qinzhou Customs; the Trade and Logistics Development Bureau of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone, in accordance with their respective responsibilities; Completion Deadline: By June 2024)
10. Optimize tax collection and administration services. First, optimize services for VAT payment and export tax rebates at all stages by implementing convenient measures such as paperless processing, “contactless” services, and “conditional acceptance of incomplete documentation” to accelerate export tax rebate processing; second, improve the efficiency of general taxpayer registration and provide personalized tax services to pilot enterprises designated as general taxpayers.(Responsible Departments: Qinzhou Port Area Tax Bureau of the Free Trade Zone and Qinzhou Customs, in accordance with their respective responsibilities; Completion Deadline: By December 2024)
11. Promote the facilitation of foreign exchange receipts and payments. First, standardize the management of foreign exchange receipts and payments for foreign trade enterprises in the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, continuously innovate foreign exchange settlement methods, facilitate cross-border e-commerce settlement for small and micro enterprises and individuals, broaden foreign exchange settlement channels, and relax restrictions on the advance payment and net settlement of taxes and fees related to cross-border e-commerce;Second, optimize the management of current account foreign exchange accounts in the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone; relax restrictions on opening accounts for export proceeds pending verification; relax restrictions on the use of domestic foreign exchange loans to repay foreign exchange purchases with an export background; expand the scope of electronic documents for enterprise goods trade; and streamline banking review and endorsement procedures.(Responsible Departments: Qinzhou Branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange; Finance and Financial Affairs Bureau and Institutional Innovation Bureau of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone, to be responsible according to their respective duties; Completion Deadline: Before December 2024)
(2) Strengthen business model innovation to stimulate development momentum.
12. Promote the quality improvement and upgrading of bonded maintenance services. First, establish a regular research mechanism for bonded maintenance to understand enterprise needs and actively seek dynamic adjustments to the bonded maintenance product catalog from relevant national ministries and commissions; second, promote the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone to carry out international ship bonded maintenance, further attract high-quality enterprises such as China State Shipbuilding Corporation to settle in the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone to conduct bonded maintenance operations, and attract the clustering of related supporting enterprises;Third, explore the use of Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone policies to conduct bonded maintenance services for large-scale equipment such as ships and offshore structures within the mainland but outside the zone. (Responsible Departments: Municipal Bureau of Commerce; Trade and Logistics Development Bureau, Institutional Innovation Bureau, and Investment Promotion Service Center of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Qinzhou Customs, each according to their respective responsibilities; Completion Deadline: Ongoing)
13. Explore the development of new bonded business models. First, explore the import and export of duty-free store goods through the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, with distribution in accordance with current regulations, to support the coordinated development of duty-free, bonded, and tax-refund mechanisms; second, promote the establishment of a collaborative mechanism with customs authorities in provinces and cities along the New Land-Sea Corridor to support enterprises within the zone in conducting bonded display and trading operations for imported equipment, automobiles, wine, and ASEAN specialty goods across customs districts;Third, explore the development of bonded leasing services for high-end equipment such as green and smart manufacturing equipment and precision instruments, as well as for ships; fourth, expand bonded R&D operations for animal feed and explore the introduction of bonded R&D services for traditional Chinese medicinal materials, food, and medical reagents; fifth, introduce relevant training institutions to explore the provision of bonded training services for medical devices and bonded training programs for domestic and international wine sommeliers.(Responsible Departments: Trade and Logistics Development Bureau, Institutional Innovation Bureau, and Investment Promotion Service Center of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Municipal Science and Technology Bureau; Municipal Commerce Bureau; Qinzhou Customs, each responsible according to their respective duties; Completion Deadline: Ongoing)
14. Promote the clustered development of cross-border e-commerce. First, optimize and upgrade the Ant Yanghuo cross-border e-commerce platform system to enhance the consumer experience, improve cross-border e-commerce regulatory conditions and facilities, and promote the efficient operation of the cross-border e-commerce customs clearance center; second, promote the development of bonded import for online retail, B2B direct exports, and B2B overseas warehouse exports;Third, support traditional foreign trade enterprises, cross-border e-commerce firms, and logistics companies both within and outside the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone in establishing “overseas warehouses” in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States, and support the integration of e-commerce with comprehensive foreign trade services.(Responsible Departments: Trade and Logistics Development Bureau and Investment Promotion Service Center of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Municipal Bureau of Commerce; Qinzhou Customs; and Qinzhou Free Trade Zone Development Investment Group, each according to their respective responsibilities; Completion Deadline: By December 2024)
15. Encourage the development of high-end industrial chains within the zone. First, fully leverage the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone’s role as a platform in areas such as R&D and design, testing and maintenance, trade in services, and financial leasing, and integrate it into the modern industrial system of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone;Second, guide the development of high-end manufacturing industries in the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone, such as marine equipment and new energy materials, by providing “one-on-one” and “door-to-door” services, implementing priority review recommendations for patent applications, and enforcing policies for patent fee reductions and exemptions to facilitate the commercialization of major patents.(Responsible Departments: Bureau of Industry and High-Tech Industries, Bureau of Trade and Logistics Development, Comprehensive Law Enforcement Bureau, Investment Promotion Service Center, and Industrial Service Center of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Municipal Bureau of Commerce; Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau; Qinzhou Customs, each responsible according to their respective duties; Completion Deadline: Before December 2024)
16. Accelerate the development of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone with distinctive features. First, study the unique characteristics and specialized development direction of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, strengthen planning for the development of industrial chains both within and outside the zone, and seek support from the General Administration of Customs to prioritize the pilot implementation of innovative customs clearance facilitation measures for cooperation with ASEAN within the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone;Second, accelerate the construction of key infrastructure projects such as the Beibu Gulf (Guangxi) Commodity Trading Platform, the China-ASEAN (Qinzhou) Fruit Trading Market, commodity storage and transportation bases, and logistics distribution centers; support warehousing and logistics enterprises in carrying out intelligent warehouse upgrades and constructing standard warehouse delivery facilities; promote business operations such as bonded manganese ore trading, pilot offshore spot trading of soybeans, and bonded delivery of crude oil futures; and foster diversified and high-end industrial development;Third, accelerate the construction of projects such as the cold-chain consolidation logistics industrial park for meat and other products; implement a regulatory model for animal and plant products where “entry into the zone precedes inspection”; and develop specialty processing of traditional Chinese medicinal materials and food-grade medicinal products.(Responsible Departments: Bureau of Institutional Innovation and Bureau of Trade and Logistics Development of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Municipal Bureau of Commerce; Qinzhou Customs; and Qinzhou Free Trade Zone Development Investment Group, each according to their respective responsibilities; Completion Deadline: By December 2024)
(3) Improve supporting infrastructure and enhance operational standards.
17. Advance the classification and tiered management of checkpoints. Study the establishment of separate lanes for customs-declared and non-customs-declared goods; formulate the “Implementation Plan for Classification and Tiered Management of Checkpoints” and the “Detailed Rules for the Management of Non-Customs-Declared Goods”; adjust relevant system rules at checkpoints; simplify data entry requirements; and optimize weight verification to achieve “classification and tiered management of checkpoints.”(Responsible Departments: Trade and Logistics Development Bureau and Digital Development Management Center of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Qinzhou Customs, in accordance with their respective responsibilities; Completion Deadline: Before December 2024)
18. Promote the coordinated development of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone and the port. First, explore the planning and construction of a transshipment functional zone within the zone to support the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone in conducting transshipment operations, simplify declaration procedures, and promote the development of transshipment trade, thereby achieving the efficient integration of the bonded functions of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone with the port’s logistics functions and expanding business operations;Second, promote the organic integration of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone with the port terminal area and the central railway station, and advance the data interconnectivity between the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone’s auxiliary management system and the Beigang Network, railway data systems, and the Guangxi International Trade “Single Window”;Third, explore the “bonded + export” container consolidation business model, establish and operate the Qinzhou Container Multimodal Logistics Base, and build a comprehensive “one-stop” smart logistics park for sea-rail-road multimodal container transshipment.(Responsible Departments: Trade and Logistics Development Bureau and Digital Development Management Center of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Municipal Development and Reform Commission; Municipal Commerce Bureau; Qinzhou Customs and Qinzhou Port Customs, each according to their respective responsibilities; Completion Deadline: Ongoing)
19. Advance the construction of the Smart Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone. First, in conjunction with the development of the digital zone, establish an intelligent and interconnected public service platform to update enterprise data within the zone in real time, thereby addressing the issues of weak application of warehouse management systems and data lag among enterprises; second, establish an information-sharing and joint supervision mechanism for the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone to foster a healthy ecosystem characterized by operational coordination, resource sharing, collaborative governance, and joint planning.(Responsible Departments: Digital Development Management Center of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone, Bureau of Trade and Logistics Development, Qinzhou Customs, Tax Bureau of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone, and Qinzhou Branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, in accordance with their respective responsibilities; Completion Deadline: Ongoing)
20. Standardize the assignment of codes to enterprises in the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone. First, comprehensively review and compile a list of registered enterprises located within the planned area of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone but outside the perimeter fence, and assist enterprises in modifying and refining their registered addresses; second, strengthen the coordination of investment promotion efforts, attract enterprises based on business types suitable for the zone, ensure enterprises are registered within the perimeter fence, and assign them Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone codes.(Responsible Departments: Trade and Logistics Development Bureau, Administrative Approval Bureau, and Investment Promotion Service Center of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Qinzhou Customs, in accordance with their respective responsibilities; Completion Deadline: By June 2024)
21. Actively respond to adjustments in management measures for key commodities. First, monitor “adjustments to management measures for key commodities,” strengthen dynamic analysis and response to policy changes during the layout of industrial projects and the investment promotion phase for projects entering the zone, to ensure orderly and standardized entry of projects;Second, identify issues in the management of existing sensitive projects within the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone; implement focused management and risk assessments for key commodities such as sugars and grains that are subject to tariff quota management and trade remedy measures; and prevent major systemic risks and potential business operational risks that may arise from policy adjustments.(Responsible Departments: Trade and Logistics Development Bureau, Institutional Innovation Bureau, Investment Promotion Service Center, and Industrial Service Center of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Municipal Bureau of Commerce; Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau; Qinzhou Customs, each responsible according to their respective duties; Completion Deadline: By December 2024)
22. Improve the construction of supporting service facilities. First, accelerate the construction of projects such as fenced patrol roads, surveillance facilities and information systems, “seven utilities and one leveling” supporting infrastructure, and the deployment of information networks; advance the construction of the main road network including the Ten Major Streets and Huanghai Road, as well as the upgrade and renovation of the East Checkpoint passage; and optimize water, electricity, and gas infrastructure;Second, plan and construct production and living support facilities such as public canteens, new energy charging stations, and parking lots based on demand to better meet the basic needs of employees within the zone—including transportation and dining—and further improve the business environment. (Responsible Departments: Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone Bureau of Natural Resources and Construction, Bureau of Industry and High-Tech Industries, and Bureau of Economic Development; Qinzhou Free Trade Zone Development Investment Group shall be responsible according to their respective duties; Completion Deadline: Ongoing)
23. Improve the reform and development management system. First, research and formulate a medium- to long-term plan for the high-quality development of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, and strengthen the coordinated planning and layout of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone with the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone and the Qinzhou Area of the China-ASEAN Industrial Cooperation Zone; second, in conjunction with the General Administration of Customs’ “Measures for the Performance Evaluation of Comprehensive Bonded Zones,” establish and improve a working mechanism for enhancing the development performance of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone;Third, establish and improve a cross-departmental comprehensive governance mechanism to deepen mutual law enforcement assistance, mutual recognition of supervision, and information exchange among relevant departments such as customs, taxation, and foreign exchange administration; revise and improve the “Implementation Plan for Joint Supervision of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone (Trial),” the “Daily Operation and Management Plan for the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone,” and the “Plan for Handling Abnormal Situations Involving Freight Vehicles Entering and Exiting the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone Outside Working Hours,” among others.(Responsible Departments: Bureau of Trade and Logistics Development, Bureau of Institutional Innovation, Bureau of Comprehensive Law Enforcement, and Bureau of Emergency Management of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; Municipal Development and Reform Commission; Municipal Commerce Bureau; Qinzhou Customs; Qinzhou Port Customs; Tax Bureau of the Qinzhou Port Area of the Free Trade Zone; and Qinzhou Branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, to be responsible according to their respective duties; Completion Deadline: By December 2024)
III. Work Requirements
(1) Strengthen Organizational Leadership. Establish a joint conference mechanism for the high-quality development of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, compile an annual task list, and urge relevant departments to fulfill their responsibilities for service and promotion. Leverage the coordinating role of the Qinzhou Port Regulatory Authorities Joint Conference to promptly convene relevant departments and customs authorities to coordinate and resolve various issues encountered during the development of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone.
(2) Strengthen Communication and Reporting. All functional departments shall proactively enhance communication and reporting with Nanning Customs and relevant departments, clarify the procedures and requirements for implementing comprehensive reform measures, and intensify efforts to secure support, so as to promote the implementation and effectiveness of comprehensive reform measures in the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone with maximum effort and at the fastest possible pace.
(3) Strengthen Performance Evaluation. Prioritize high-quality development, promptly adjust the development priorities and focus of the Qinzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, strictly implement performance target management, increase support and services for existing bonded operations, and actively introduce and cultivate various entities to expand new business models in bonded services.
