On September 23rd, the Takshken Port buzzes with activity as the first rays of sunlight illuminate a busy scene. Heavy trucks laden with coking coal roll into the port, quickly passing through inspections by border police.
According to statistics from the Takshken Border Inspection Station within the Xinjiang Entry and Exit Border Defense Checkpoint, as of September 22nd, the port has processed over 84,700 vehicles this year, marking a 37.09% increase compared to the previous year. Recently, the port reached a historic milestone, with a single day’s import of coking coal exceeding 300 trucks, totaling 22,000 tons.
“Endless streams of trucks testify to the bustling activity at the port, and the continuously rising data reflects a vibrant economic growth,” explains Gao Pengfei, a staff member at the Takshken Border Inspection Station.
The Takshken Port serves as a crucial trade corridor between China and Mongolia, enabling China to connect with Russia through Mongolia, offering the shortest distance and most well-equipped infrastructure for road transportation. From January to September, there has been a rapid increase in imported goods, particularly coal. Exports also show strong performance, with machinery, construction materials, clothing, and fruits and vegetables becoming key growth areas.
This year, the Takshken Port has been actively implementing a digital port strategy, enhancing the facilitation of customs clearance. By integrating operations across various stages and improving information sharing, the port has created a collaborative regulatory environment that ensures smooth and efficient customs processes.
Qi Weijiang, Director of the Takshken Port Committee Office, states that their team collaborates with Qinhai County, inspection units, and import-export enterprises to provide coordinated clearance services at the frontline. They have established a mechanism for separating cargo and passenger traffic in designated areas, implemented integrated joint operations among inspection departments, streamlined procedures for initial document handling, and adopted one-time inspections to continually energize the port’s development.
Captain Luo Surong from the first patrol team at the Takshken Border Inspection Station mentions that in light of the significant increase in inbound and outbound freight vehicles, the station continuously optimizes customs clearance measures for freight vehicles to ensure zero delays and waiting times, ultimately minimizing costs for businesses.
Moreover, the Takshken Border Inspection Station has strengthened its “smart border inspection” initiatives by enhancing internet services like “finger-tip declarations” and “direct access for companies,” which facilitate the data submission process and reduce the need for companies to make multiple trips. With the implementation of a three-step inspection model and prioritized checks for energy vehicles, the station actively collaborates with various inspection units to clarify departmental responsibilities, streamlining the customs process and improving efficiency by 30% for major import and export goods.
Customs efficiency is directly linked to trade costs for companies. Bayan, the logistics director at Xinjiang Mengke Energy Technology Co., reveals that the company currently imports over 10,000 tons of coking coal from Mongolia daily. “Improved customs efficiency has significantly reduced our transportation costs. This year, our coking coal imports have increased dramatically.”
Yang Donghui, Deputy Director of the Border Inspection Department, emphasizes, “We will continuously explore new models of border inspection services that align with the national conditions of China and Mongolia, providing more efficient and convenient customs services to enhance the economic development at the port and contribute to the high-quality growth of the local economy.”
