BEIJING: China and Kazakhstan have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the customs departments of the two countries.
The signing took place in Xi’an, capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, at the first high-level international customs forum focussed on the “Belt and Road” initiative.
Customs directors and representatives from over 70 countries and areas joined the event.
China and Kazakhstan also agreed to establish a free trade zone in the major cities along railways between the two countries, so as to expand cooperation between enterprises.
In addition, they decided to increase agricultural cooperation, and continue to strengthen relations between customs departments and the business community.
“The transportation along “one belt, one road” coincides with our economic development plan. We will initiate some logistics transport from north east China to Kazakhstan,” said Daulet Ergozhin, chairman of Kazakh Finance Ministry’s State Revenues Committee.
“We believe the corridor will help deliver goods from the west of China to Europe. The roles both our customs will play is non-replaceable.”