On September 8, Mr. Sun Yibiao, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China met with Mr. Edward Troup, Executive Chair of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the U.K. in London, and held bilateral talks with Ms. Jennie Granger, Director General of HMRC and Mr. Philip Duffy, Chief Operating Officer of Border Force of the U.K..

Both sides gave positive comments on the bilateral economic and trade development as well as customs cooperation, and reached consensus in four aspects. Firstly, both sides should implement the Memorandum of understanding on Mutual Administrative Assistance Cooperation between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, facilitate the cooperation among China Customs, HMRC and Border Force of the U.K.. Secondly, customs clearance should be further facilitated. Thirdly, good trade order should be maintained by deepening mutual assistance of law enforcement. And lastly, both sides should further exchange reform experiences.

After the meeting, Mr. Sun, Ms. Granger and Mr. Duffy jointly signed the Arrangement between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and Border Force of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the Twinning Cooperation between GuangZhou Customs District and the Port of Felixtowe.