On February 29, Vice Minister Sun Yibiao, entrusted by Minister Yu Guangzhou, opened the Seminar on China-Africa Customs Modernization with an address in Shanghai Customs College.

He started by welcoming the African delegations on behalf of Minister Yu, reviewed the progress made so far in China-Africa Customs cooperation and stressed the significance of Customs cooperation in following through on the Johannesburg Summit consensus.

He then put forward a four-point proposal for Customs cooperation. He calls on Customs administrations present at the seminar to contribute to closer China-Africa business and trade ties by keeping one another updated on domestic Customs policies, to together curb commercial fraud, IP infringement, and the trafficking of drugs and endangered species, to further facilitate trade by supporting new forms of business such as cross-border e-commerce and the development of industrial parks, and to share experience in customs reform and modernization.

Mr. Hamid Ibrahim Ali, Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Sudhamo Lal, Director General of Mauritius Revenue Authority, and Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda, Director Customs of the East African Community Secretariat, also addressed the opening and expressed their readiness to work with China Customs for the sound and sustained growth of China-Africa trade.

After the opening ceremony, Vice Minister Sun gave a presentation on the topic of “China Customs Today”, briefing the participants on what China Customs does, its management philosophies and reform initiatives, as well as its engagement with global partners.

Fifty-four top and senior officials from 12 African countries attended the opening.