China has made breakthroughs in simplifying customs clearance procedures, with measures taken to enhance the building of smart customs systems and achieve nationwide integration of customs clearance procedures, Sun Meijun, head of the General Administration of Customs, said at a press conference on Monday.
Sun briefed the media on customs' achievements in safeguarding borders and promoting high-quality development during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period.
"We've been committed to institutional innovation and technology-based transformation, comprehensively strengthening the development of smart customs systems, and fully achieving nationwide integrated customs clearance. The Single Window System for international trade has become a digital gateway connecting China and the world through global trade. It now offers 964 online services across 25 major categories, essentially covering all aspects of cross-border trade. Handling customs procedures online or via mobile devices has become a normal practice," she said.
"The supervision model for multimodal transportation that involves means of transport by road, railway, waterway and aviation enables single declaration and a single bill of lading for the entire logistics process. Smart passenger inspection systems have been deployed at 80 percent of our airports, enabling seamless and expedited clearance for travelers. Continuous efforts to facilitate cross-border trade have significantly improved the business environment at ports," Sun said.
China has added and expanded 40 ports of entry since 2021, bringing the country's total ports of entry to 311.
China now ranks among the top three trading partners for 157 countries and regions worldwide.
China makes breakthroughs in simplifying customs clearance procedures: official
A civil group in Japan held a study session on Saturday to tell the historical truth about the Nanjing Massacre and called on the Japanese government and society to reflect on history and avoid repeating the tragedy of war of aggression.
Saturday marks China's 12th National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre which took place when Japanese troops occupied the then-Chinese capital on Dec 13, 1937, killing approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of WWII over the course of six weeks.
"Japan's army committed a brutal atrocity -- the Nanjing Massacre 88 years ago in 1937. Today, on this important day, let us observe a moment of silence for 30 seconds for the victims," said an organizer of the study session.
This study session was led by Jomaru Yoichi, a former journalist with the Asahi Shimbun, a Japanese daily newspaper. Yoichi compiled numerous articles published in Japanese newspapers after the Nanjing Massacre. Among them, an article published on December 24, 1937 detailed the atrocities committed by the invading Japanese army in China.
"Around 08:00, about 400-500 defeated Chinese soldiers fled. The Japanese soldiers drove them into houses and bamboo groves, setting fires on all sides. Many of them were driven out by thick smokes. The Japanese soldiers killed them one by one with rifles and bayonets. The Japanese soldiers lost track of how many they had stabbed and killed all of them by 16:00," Yoichi recounted.
Many Japanese citizens said the Japanese government and society must confront the truth of history, and it's important to disseminate accurate historical information in contemporary Japan.
"The Nanjing Massacre is a real incident. The remarks that 'The Nanjing Massacre didn't exist' or 'The Japanese army was powerful and righteous' ignore historical evidence and deny the facts outright. I believe these are all attempts to hide the truth of history. I think these are all wrong. Facts are facts, and we must face history squarely," said a participant at the study session.
"I used to teach history in high school. In 1988, I spent two weeks in China and visited for the first time the site documenting the war crimes of the invading Japanese army. On the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the social atmosphere in Japan is gradually becoming strange. We must seriously examine Japan's past history, and disseminating accurate history has become even more important," said another participant.
Some expressed their concern that the Japanese government's historical revisionism, its attempt to cover up the truth of history, and its path towards military expansion will prevent Japan from facing the future.
"The fact that the Japanese army's war of aggression is not taught in social studies or history courses. I have no choice but to learn this myself even now at my age. The idea of upholding the pacifist constitution is becoming increasingly strong. Current Japanese politicians are pursuing a military expansion strategy, which I find incomprehensible," said another participant.
In 2014, China's top legislature designated December 13 as a national memorial day for the massacre victims.
Japanese civil group calls for remembrance of Nanjing Massacre victims
