In recent years, leveraging its unique advantages in border port resources, Xizang has innovatively implemented a development model featuring "region-port linkage, one-time customs declaration, and direct port access", which has been successfully put into practice at the Xigaze International Land Port.

Xizang has actively served and integrated into the joint construction of the "Belt and Road Initiative". The Department of Commerce of Xizang Autonomous Region has allocated a special fund of 163 million yuan for the targeted investment in the construction of the Xigaze International Land Port, resulting in the establishment of a modern export cargo inspection yard that integrates multiple functions such as customs declaration, inspection, transshipment, loading and unloading, storage, and consolidation.

Gu Peixiang, a staff member from the Port Affairs Division of the Department of Commerce of Xizang Autonomous Region, introduced, "this series of measures not only enhances trade efficiency and promotes the prosperous development of the regional economy but also injects a powerful impetus into the high-quality development of the plateau economy."

"Under the traditional inspection model, cargo clearance was time-consuming and costly, placing enterprises under dual pressure in terms of efficiency and capital," said Li Chun, a staff member from the Bureau of Commerce of Xigaze City. "After the inspection yard was put into operation, it has built a one-stop service platform for export cargo inspection and transloading, capable of handling inspection services for 300 export cargo vehicles per day." As of now, the inspection yard has cumulatively cleared and inspected 60 shipments of goods, covering new energy vehicles and daily necessities, with a total value of 66.0002 million yuan and a weight of 1,022.09 tons. The previous problem of decentralized inspections has been completely resolved, significantly reducing the time and capital costs for foreign trade enterprises.

At the China-Nepal border on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, the Gyirong Port serves as a frontline window for Xizang's opening up to the outside world, shouldering the crucial responsibility of facilitating and safeguarding trade exchanges. Under the overall guidance of the Department of Commerce of XizangAutonomous Region, Gyirong Customs has closely aligned with the demand for "going global" of domestically produced new energy vehicles by establishing a dedicated declaration window for their export. Through the implementation of facilitation measures such as "advance declaration, immediate inspection upon arrival, pre-audit of documents, and non-intrusive inspection," and by leveraging the Lhasa Comprehensive Bonded Zone, Gyirong Customs has innovatively adopted a customs declaration model of "one ticket for multiple vehicles" and a customs clearance model of "one-time inspection, direct port access," significantly reducing clearance times and lowering costs for enterprises. This has enabled domestically produced new energy vehicles to enter the international market more efficiently.

In 2024, a total of 11,718 new energy vehicles were exported through the Gyirong and Zham ports for customs clearance. In the first quarter of this year alone, the export volume reached 2,842 vehicles. Xizang has emerged as a major corridor for China's new energy vehicle exports to Nepal.

While actively advancing the construction of land ports, there has also been a new breakthrough in the combined rail-road transport of the South Asia freight train service. "Watching the train leave smoothly, fully loaded with cargo, we are filled with confidence for the future," remarked a staff member who has been involved in the train's operation for a long time. As of now, the South Asia freight train service has operated a cumulative total of five trains, carrying new energy vehicles, daily necessities, and other goods worth 124 million yuan. It has gradually become an important trade link connecting China with the outside world.

With the official operation of the international cargo terminal at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport, Xizang's modern logistics system featuring "dual hubs of air and land" has taken shape. On April 27, the first flight carrying 74 pieces of cross-border e-commerce cargo successfully entered the Lhasa Comprehensive Bonded Zone, realizing a brand-new customs clearance model of "one-time declaration, one-time inspection, and one-time release." Leveraging the "region-port linkage" mechanism, Xizang has vigorously promoted the development of new formats and models in cross-border e-commerce, providing more efficient and convenient services for related enterprises.

By innovating the "region-port linkage" model, Xizang has made coordinated efforts in multiple areas such as land port construction, port trade, and air logistics. This has not only streamlined the trade clearance process and reduced enterprise costs but also injected new vitality into the high-quality development of the plateau economy.

Reporter: Tenzin Namse

Translator: Zhi Xinghua, Liu Fang

Review: Li Chengye, Drakpa Wanchen