From July 11 to 17, 2017, Mr. Hu Wei, Vice Minister of China Customs paid visits to customs administrations in the Netherlands, Brazil and Cuba, and held bilateral meetings respectively with his counterparts.
Vice Minister Hu Wei met with Mr. Bert Wiersema, Deputy General Director of Customs Administration of the Netherlands in Rotterdam, where both sides made a comprehensive assessment of bilateral cooperation, exchanged in-depth views on a wide range of issues and agreed to implement the outcomes of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, expand the scope of the twinning programs, continue engagement in projects under China-EU customs cooperation framework, enhance coordination on the WCO affairs and make joint study on customs control over cross-border e-commerce, etc.
During his stay in the Netherlands, Vice Minister Hu also visited customs operation fields at Schiphol Airport regarding air cargo inspection and a training center there, where a detailed introduction on the smart inspection projects and the Joint Inspection Center of the Netherlands was delivered. In addition, Vice Minister Hu also visited Erasmus University Rotterdam. Both sides exchanged views on the cooperation between customs administrations and colleges and universities.
In Brasilia, Vice Minister Hu held a meeting with Mr. Paulo Ricardo de Souza Cardoso, Acting Secretary of the Department of Federal Revenue of the Ministry of Finance of Brazil, and its Undersecretary Mr. Ronaldo Lázaro Medina. Both sides made a comprehensive assessment of China-Brazil customs cooperation, exchanged in-depth views on a wide range of issues, and agreed to accelerate the ratification of the CMAA, continue the participation in China-Brazil High-level Coordination and Cooperation Committee mechanism, promote negotiations on AEO mutual recognition, enhance anti-smuggling cooperation, and deepen coordination under the frameworks of the WCO and BRICS.
During his stay in Brazil, Vice Minister Hu also visited a customs operation field at Rio de Janeiro airport, where he observed the process of passengers inspection and the detection of drugs. In addition, Vice Minister Hu also held talks with Mr. Li Jinzhang, Chinese ambassador to Brazil.
In Havana, Vice Minister Hu met with Mr. Pedro Miguel Pérez, Head of the General Customs of Cuba, First Deputy Head Mr. Nelson Enrique Cordoves Reyes, Deputy Head Mr. Miguel A. Nunez Martin and Deputy Head Mr. Williams. Both sides made a comprehensive assessment of bilateral cooperation, exchanged in-depth views on a wide range of issues and agreed to enhance high-level exchanges, implement the newly-signed MOU on training cooperation, strengthen anti-smuggling cooperation, exchange practices on the implementation of customs inspection equipments, and explore to cooperate on information exchange, etc. After the meeting, Vice Minister Hu and Mr. Cordoves jointly signed the Memorandum of Understanding for Training Cooperation 2017-2020 between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the General Customs of the Republic of Cuba .
During his stay in Cuba, Vice Minister Hu also visited Cuba Customs Management Center at Havana Airport, where he observed the process of targeting and supervision over passengers with high risks based on the previous received information related to passengers. In addition, Vice Minister Hu also held talks with Chargé d’affaires of Chinese Embassy in Cuba.
Vice Minister Hu Wei holds a meeting with Mr. Paulo Ricardo de Souza Cardoso, Acting Secretary of the Department
of Federal Revenue of the Ministry of Finance of Brazil, and its Undersecretary Mr. Ronaldo Lázaro Medina.