Officials and e-commerce business representatives at the opening ceremony of Shenyang’s cross-border e-commerce public service platform on Dec 26. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Shenyang’s first imported goods purchased through an e-commerce platform successfully passed customs clearance on Dec 26, marking the official operation of the city’s cross-border e-commerce public service platform.

Currently, the cross-border e-commerce public service platform is already able to share data with Shenyang’s authorities, including customs, and the entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureau. In the future, the platform will further expand its online one-stop services covering paper-free customs declaration, inspection, tax refund and foreign exchange settlement, which is anticipated to achieve faster customs clearance of imported and exported goods.

Zhang Jinghui, vice mayor of Shenyang, expressed his view that the platform brings much greater convenience for customers, where purchased overseas goods will be delivered to customers’ homes without having to clear customs in other remote ports like Guangzhou, which saves both time and money for them.

Meanwhile, the launch of the platform is of great importance to help Shenyang integrate into China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and open its international logistics channel. It has also laid a solid foundation for Shenyang to build its cross-border e-commerce industry demonstration base.

Located in Yuhong District of Shenyang, the city’s cross-border e-commerce industry demonstration base is currently under construction.

According to Shenyang’s e-commerce development plan, over a three to five–year period, Shenyang’s cross-border e-commerce industry demonstration base will shape a complete e-commerce service system with cross-border e-commerce public service platforms, ports for goods to clear customs, and a cluster zone of foreign trade businesses and startups.

The demonstration base is divided into two parts, the A part is an e-commerce industrial park, which will contain a cross-border e-commerce public service platform, business incubators, an imported goods exhibition and experience center, plus a comprehensive service zone; the B part will be built into a warehouse logistics zone equipped with modern infrastructure and convenient transportation.

At present, Yuhong District’s e-commerce industry is experiencing strong growth due to the advantages of its location, convenient transportation and logistics, and solid industrial foundations.

Lying in the west of Shenyang city, Yuhong District is linked to places across China via highways, expressways and railways. It is only a 40-minute journey from Shenyang Xiantao International Airport, and goods are able to reach Yingkou Port and Dalian Port within three hours by road.

Yuhong District’s e-commerce is also supported by a strong logistics system in Shenyang, where the Shenyang International Logistics Port is the only national-level demonstration logistics park in Liaoning province; the Shenyang Railway Comprehensive Goods Yard is among the 18 railway cargo centers in China.

Yuhong District also has solid industrial foundations. It is home to over 20 e-commerce industry parks and projects, and a group of service businesses affiliated to the e-commerce industry, including an e-commerce industrial park for vipshop.com.cn –– a shopping website for bargain goods.