From September 20th to 29th, 2017, Mr. Zou Zhiwu, Vice Minister，General Administration of Customs of China visited Portugal, Italy and Turkey to explore the possibility to establish with customs administrations of the three countries a new mode of customs interconnectivity for the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road as well as the Eurasian Land Route and to expand their scope of cooperation for both initiatives.

During his visit, Vice Minister Zou had frank discussions with his counterparts on ways to establish a new pattern of Customs cooperation along both marine and land routes and jointly implement the Belt and Road initiative. He expressed China’s support for Port of Sines, Portugal to join the Secure & Smart Trade Lane Pilot Project (SSTL), and emphasized the need to initiate a twinning program between Shanghai Customs, China and Venice Customs, Italy, and to carry out AEO mutual recognition as well as cooperation in TIR Convention implementation between China and Turkey to facilitate Eurasian cross-border transportation.

As part of his visit program, Vice Minister Zou also heard briefings on difficulties encountered by Chinese companies in going through customs procedures in those countries, stressed during his meetings with his counterparts the important role played by the Chinese companies in promoting growth of bilateral trade, and discussed with Italian Customs specifically anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties levied inappropriately on products of Chinese companies urging them to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

Vice Minister Zou Zhiwu pays a visit to Italy’s Trieste Free Port Zone

Vice Minister Zou Zhiwu signs China - Turkey AEO Mutual Recognition Action Plan

with Undersecretary Cenap Asci, Ministry of Customs and Trade of Turkey

Vice Minister Zou Zhiwu, Secretary of State for Tax Affairs of Portugal

and Director of Portugal Port Authority visit Port of Sines