Shanghai Customs has implemented new measures to expedite the clearance of African fruits, offering Chinese consumers a wider variety of fresh, high-quality produce.
A cargo ship, carrying 67.5 tons of apples and oranges from South Africa, berthed at the the Waigaoqiao Port Area in Shanghai last Wednesday, following the completion of border inspection and entry procedures.
Customs officials have taken active measures to make the fruits enter the local market on the same day.
"Under the premise of strict implementation of plant quarantine supervision requirements, we've improved efficiency and completed inspection quickly to ensure that qualified fruits imported from Africa can enter the market as soon as possible," said Luo Zhen, deputy chief of No.10 inspection division of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Port Area Customs under Shanghai Customs.
Thanks to the close economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa, Chinese people now can enjoy more and more high-quality agricultural products from the continent.
Since the beginning of this year, the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Port Area Customs has inspected 2,298 tons of fruit imported from South Africa, such as grapefruits, oranges, pears and apples.
"I have tried oranges from South Africa, and I think they taste good," said Lu, one of the customers.
"Compared with domestic fruits, African fruits have different taste, they have their own special flavor. I often choose some imported varieties to have a taste," said Zhang, another customer.
Shanghai Customs speeds up African fruit imports
Local merchants in Gyirong County of Xigaze City, in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, have been providing free relief supplies and essential aid to rescue teams and frontline workers following a catastrophic mudslide.
The deadly mudslide triggered by a glacial collapse on the Nepalese side struck the remote China-Nepal border region on Aug 26 morning.
Zeng Yong, owner of a building materials store in the county, kept his business open around the clock and provided complimentary lodging for rescue and restoration workers in the aftermath of the disaster.
"I didn't think about anything else at all. I just knew that building materials were definitely needed in disaster relief. We provided whatever we had and stayed open all day long," said Zeng.
On the night of the disaster, Zeng and his family and store employees rushed to assemble 16 makeshift beds and urgently purchased bedding supplies. After six to seven hours of intensive effort, they transformed the second-floor office area into a functional rest area for frontline workers.
"On the front line, I was mainly tying steel cages and had been working continuously for two days and one night. The tents at the frontline are all full," said Zhang Xuhui, a worker of China Railway Guangzhou Engineering Bureau Group Bridge Engineering Co., Ltd. "Sleeping bags and raincoats are all packed in bags. The moment we receive the order, we just grab our bags and head straight there,” said Lhapa Tsering, a rescuer.
Among those staying at Zeng's store are emergency support personnel, frontline workers and freight drivers. No matter how late they return, Zeng keeps the lights on to welcome them.
"Their rescue work doesn't follow a regular schedule, and sometimes they come back very late. I always keep the light on so they can return at any time," said Zeng.
Across the streets of Gyirong County, temporary volunteer service stations have been set up, operating around the clock to provide a wide range of supplies to rescuers and local residents alike.
"When disaster strikes, help comes from all sides. I have lived here for nearly 30 years -- this place is half my hometown. As long as I can help in any way, even just a little, it is a small token of my appreciation," a local merchant.
Gyirong merchants mobilize to provide free aid to rescue teams, frontline workers
