As the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) approaches, a significant influx of exhibition items is arriving in Shanghai by sea. On the night of October 22, the Panama-flagged ship “Cosco New York” docked at Yangshan Deep Water Port, bringing a shipment of goods from Pakistan. Shanghai’s border inspection authorities, in collaboration with port units, quickly opened a green channel for the ship, ensuring the safe and timely entry of the exhibition items.
The “Cosco New York” is carrying a full container of handcrafted products from Pakistan. The vessel departed from Karachi on September 30. Pakistan’s handicrafts are diverse, rich in history, and characterized by their unique cultural charm and strong national identity, with jade, wood, and copper items representing traditional craftsmanship. Notably, at the last CIIE, attendees marveled at the “Camel Skin Lamp,” an endangered cultural heritage craft with a history of over 900 years.
According to officials from the Yangshan Border Inspection Station, three ships carrying CIIE exhibition goods have already arrived this year, with one to two more expected. The current items predominantly come from South Africa, Peru, and Pakistan.
As the CIIE is set to open in early November, a faster pace for exhibition setup is required. The Yangshan Border Inspection Station, in cooperation with Shanghai Border Defense and other port units, has established a comprehensive green channel that covers every step from “transportation to customs clearance, unloading, and transfer,” ensuring safe and efficient entry for the exhibition items.
“Once the exhibition items are dispatched, we enhance our communication with shipping companies to monitor the vessels’ trajectories in real-time. Before the ship arrives, we conduct pre-inspection through Shanghai’s ‘Single Window’ Customs Service platform, ensuring it can unload as soon as it docks. After the ship arrives, we quickly board to handle the customs inspection, reducing the clearance time. During the unloading process, we intensify management to guarantee the safe and orderly handling of the goods,” said Yan Shijun, captain of the inspection team at Yangshan Border Inspection Station.
With the 7th CIIE approaching, dedicated customs channels have been set up at both Pudong and Hongqiao international airports to facilitate the entry of exhibitors and purchasing guests. The Shanghai Border Inspection has introduced exclusive customs clearance channels for those holding invitations from the CIIE organizers, ensuring expedited entry. Additionally, a specialized team fluent in multiple languages, known as the “Shanghai Border Inspection Youth Team,” is on hand to assist in English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and Korean.
Moreover, the Shanghai border inspection authorities have established a 24/7 hotline through the national immigration management service platform 12367, providing round-the-clock assistance for inquiries about immigration policies and customs clearance.
