China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) has recently unveiled a series of strategic measures to boost the development of the country's western regions, with a clear focus on increasing openness and facilitating international trade. The plan includes a range of initiatives aimed at enhancing infrastructure, expanding trade, and promoting regional economic development. This article examines these measures and their potential implications for international business professionals, particularly those involved in cross-border trade and investment.

The 15 new measures outlined by GAC cover several critical areas, including improving trade infrastructure, supporting the growth of key industries, and enhancing the business environment in western China. These actions are designed to reinforce the region's global economic integration and increase the flow of goods and services.

1. Enhancing Trade Infrastructure

Among the most significant initiatives is the enhancement of transportation and logistics infrastructure in the western regions. This includes the construction of international aviation hubs in cities such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Xi'an, and Urumqi. By fostering the development of these hubs, China aims to better connect its western regions to global markets, particularly those in ASEAN.

Moreover, the measures support the opening or expansion of ports in eligible areas, providing more opportunities for intermodal transportation, including river-sea and rail-sea options. These enhancements are expected to streamline trade routes and make it easier for international businesses to engage with China's western markets.

2. Promoting Key Industry Growth

The GAC is also prioritizing the development of strategic industries in western China. These include high-tech manufacturing, traditional industry upgrades, and the export of specialty agricultural products. Notably, GAC is encouraging the export of products such as vegetables, fruits, tea, and medicinal herbs from the region, which have seen growing demand in international markets.

Furthermore, businesses in the western regions will benefit from policy support for technological upgrades and investment in advanced equipment. This initiative aligns with China's broader goal of fostering innovation and sustainable development in its industrial sectors.

3. Optimizing the Business Environment

To ensure that these developments translate into tangible economic growth, GAC is working to improve the business environment in the western regions. The measures include introducing reforms to simplify customs procedures, enhance the efficiency of cross-border trade, and reduce administrative burdens for foreign and domestic businesses alike.

The region is expected to benefit from the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and other free trade agreements, further facilitating international trade. Additionally, businesses operating in the region can access personalized support services, including “customs officials delivering policies to businesses,” which aims to improve the overall ease of doing business.

The impact of these measures is already visible in the growth of trade in western China. In 2023, the total import and export value of the western regions surged to 3.74 trillion yuan (approximately 520 billion U.S. dollars), marking an impressive year-on-year increase of 8.5%. This growth is significantly higher than the national average of 1.2%, underscoring the effectiveness of GAC's efforts to stimulate the region's foreign trade.

In 2024, the region's trade continued to thrive, with total imports and exports reaching 3.63 trillion yuan (about 510 billion U.S. dollars) in the first 11 months of the year. This represents an 8% increase compared to the previous year, which outpaces the national growth rate by 3.1%.

One of the key drivers of this growth is the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, which has become a pivotal logistics network linking western China to global markets, especially those in Southeast Asia. In 2024, the corridor reached a significant milestone, handling over 10,000 intermodal rail-sea journeys, facilitating the transport of nearly 88,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) to and from RCEP member countries—a remarkable 32% year-on-year increase.