Ports are fundamental, pivotal infrastructure and a vital underpinning of economic development. Against the backdrop of deep global economic integration, ports and foreign trade are closely linked, mutually reinforcing each other and forming a crucial underpinning of economic development. As key distribution centers for foreign trade goods, ports are at the forefront of international economic and trade exchanges. Booming foreign trade continuously invigorates ports, driving their continuous upgrading and development.
Recently, ports, a barometer of economic development, have continued to deliver positive news: In 2024, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port achieved cargo throughput of 1.377 billion tons, a year-on-year increase of 4%, ranking first globally for the 16th consecutive year; Shanghai Port's container throughput reached 51.506 million TEUs, making it the first major port in the world to exceed 50 million TEUs annually; and Tianjin Port achieved container throughput of 23.28 million TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 5%, a record high. These achievements not only demonstrate the efficient operations, advanced infrastructure, and excellent comprehensive service capabilities of my country's ports, but also bear witness to the robust vitality and resilience of my country's foreign trade development.
As the implementer of trade policies, the guardian of trade security, and the promoter of trade facilitation, customs plays a vital role in supporting port development and promoting the steady growth of foreign trade.
Strengthening internal and external connections is driving steady growth in port capabilities. For ports, continuously increasing shipping capacity, the continuous opening of new routes, and constantly breaking loading and unloading records provide strong support for the vigorous development of the industrial chain and supply chain. This deep integration is not only an inevitable law of port development but also a powerful means to promote the efficient aggregation of various factors and resources, providing a key path to overcoming resource bottlenecks faced in the process of port modernization. Customs, located at the intersection of domestic and international dual circulation, must effectively play its functional role and continuously strive to achieve better supervision, higher security, greater convenience, and stricter crackdown on smuggling. It will establish and improve collaborative mechanisms in multiple areas, including customs clearance assurance, risk prevention and control, and laboratory testing. It will vigorously support the development of new business models such as cross-border e-commerce and bonded trade, and help ports transform from solely shipping functions to multifunctional ports such as trade ports, financial ports, logistics ports, and industrial ports.
Empowered by technology, it will promote the steady improvement of smart ports. In recent years, major ports around the world have been vigorously promoting smart port development, and the degree of digitalization has become a key indicator of a port's core competitiveness. Ports should actively integrate into the digital development trend and continuously deepen the application of technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and big data to enhance the intelligence and automation of operations, reduce operating costs, and enhance their core competitiveness. For example, the intelligent management and control system developed by Rizhao Port in Shandong has become the "smart brain" of the terminal, significantly improving loading and unloading efficiency. Customs should actively introduce cutting-edge technologies such as intelligent image review and intelligent inspection to achieve intelligent supervision of cargo from entry to departure, ensuring the rapid customs clearance of legal and compliant foreign trade goods and pushing port cargo turnover efficiency to new heights.
Multiple measures are being taken to promote the steady and positive development of foreign trade. The ports operate around the clock, with their constant throughput and the frequent dispatch of container ships. This vibrant logistics network not only reflects the steady expansion of my country's foreign trade but also reflects the underlying trend of the supply chain system's transformation and upgrading towards efficiency and intensiveness. According to statistics, in 2024, the total value of my country's import and export of goods reached 43.85 trillion yuan, a record high. The coordinated development and mutual resonance of port construction and foreign trade require sustained and strong support from customs. Especially in the tide of economic globalization, customs should actively participate in international cooperation, such as deepening the mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs). This will help high-quality enterprises enjoy preferential treatment in the international market, reduce regulatory oversight, and optimize services, thereby continuously enhancing their international competitiveness.
The path to success is to keep pace with the times. Port development requires us to be bold and pioneering, take pioneering action, and be resourceful in planning and implementing strategies. We must ride the waves of the global economy and inject strong momentum into the high-quality development of my country's foreign trade economy.
