Photo shows that customs officials provide training to the operating enterprise on the inspection of imported fruits. (Photo provided from Lhasa Customs)

Recently, the designated supervision site for imported fruits at Gyirong Port inXizang Autonomous Region has been officially approved by China's General Administration of Customs. This is the first standardized designated supervision site for imported fruits in the region, which can meet the full-process inspection, quarantine, and supervision requirements for imported fruit businesses. This development further enhances the overall function of Gyirong Port and opens up a new channel for Xizang's opening up to South Asia.

"In the past, citrus fruits on the local market were all transported from other provinces and cities in China, with long transportation distances, extended transit times, and high costs, making it difficult to meet the local demand for citrus fruits in Xizang. Nepalese fruits have advantages in both price and quality, and there is also a significant market demand. After the official acceptance of the designated supervision site, fruits can enter directly through the Gyirong Port, effectively saving transportation time, reducing costs, and ensuring the freshness of the fruits. This will help us import more high-quality fruits from Nepal. In the next step, we will actively conduct market research based on market demand and make advance preparations for the import of Nepalese fruits," said Xu Bin from Xizang Longdaer Customs Brokerage Co., Ltd., with great anticipation.

"We will seize this opportunity to actively import Nepalese citrus, lemons, and other fruits, continuously promote the development of the processing industry for citrus and other fruits, forming related industrial chains, and contributing our own strength to the local economic development," said Buchung Tsering from Xizang Gyirong Port South Asia International Logistics Co., Ltd., with great confidence.

"The official acceptance of the designated supervision site for imported fruits at the Gyirong Port signifies that this facility has become the first standardized site in the Xizang Autonomous Region capable of conducting supervision, inspection, and storage of fruits exported from Nepal to China. Next, we will continue to advance the import of Nepalese citrus, lemons, and other fruits, promote the development of the fruit processing industry, and inject customs momentum into the thriving export-oriented economy of Xizang," said Tseten Norbu, Director of the Port Supervision Department of Lhasa Customs.

From January to February this year, the total import-export trade value at the Gyirong Port reached 784 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 73.01%. Among this, the import trade value was 42.6738 million yuan, up 1.97 times year on year, while the export trade value was 742 million yuan, up 68.94% year on year. The total volume of import-export trade amounted to 22,100 tons, a year-on-year increase of 1.11 times, with the import trade volume being 1,058 tons, a year-on-year increase of 1.43 times, and the export trade volume being 21,100 tons, a year-on-year increase of 1.09 times.

Reporter: Chai Ze, Zhao Yue

Translator: Tenzin Seldron, Zhi Xinghua

Review: Hu Rongguo, Dong Xiuli