Nanfang Daily, Nanfang+: 

Since 2014, cross-border e-commerce has been included in China's government work reports for 11 consecutive years, and it has also become a new driving force for the growth of foreign trade. May I ask, in the first quarter of this year what was the import and export situation of cross-border e-commerce like? What has customs done to promote the sound development of cross-border e-commerce? Thank you.

Lyu Daliang:

With the development of internet technology, cross-border e-commerce, leveraging advantages such as online transactions, contactless delivery and short transaction chains, has helped consumers and producers from various countries "purchase and sell globally," and has become a "new force" in global trade.

The rapid development of global cross-border e-commerce has not only facilitated global access of Chinese products but has also become an important channel for foreign consumer goods to enter the Chinese market. In the first quarter, according to preliminary calculations, China's cross-border e-commerce imports and exports totaled 577.6 billion yuan, an increase of 9.6% year on year. Among them, the exports totaled 448 billion yuan and imports totaled 129.6 billion yuan. What I would like to clarify is that according to China's cross-border e-commerce statistical survey system, cross-border e-commerce statistical surveys are conducted twice a year, including a full-year survey of the previous year and a survey of the first half of the current year, with monthly and quarterly data as preliminary estimates. Cross-border e-commerce imports and exports are already included in the total import and export volume for the same period.

In recent years, customs have continuously deepened comprehensive reforms of cross-border e-commerce in line with its characteristics and development trends, continuously improved regulatory and service efficiency, ensured the quality, safety and clearance convenience of imported and exported goods, actively promoted the collaborative governance between customs and cross-border e-commerce platforms and effectively advanced the sound and well-regulated development of cross-border e-commerce. Next, customs will work with relevant departments to focus on the difficulties and bottleneck issues in the supervision of cross-border e-commerce, continue to promote innovation in systems, management and services as well as promote the high-quality development of cross-border e-commerce, facilitating domestic and foreign consumers and producers to enjoy more and better products. Thank you.