The annual handling capacity of TEU containers at Xiamen port reaches 10 million in 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

East China's Fujian province recently shared the fruits of optimizing its port business environment and pledged to facilitate more cross-border trade. 

A 'smart' port construction project agreement signed in mid-June between the Fujian Commerce Department and Fujian Electronics and Information Group was the most recent and eye-catching change. 

The project will forge statistical ties with the General Administration of Customs for international customs clearance and data exchange, dock with third-party platforms, and promote digital-based foreign trade services. 

The port is expected to break the statistical boundaries of ports in countries and regions along the Silk Road and upgrade international trade services in a comprehensive way. It will also enhance business and cultural exchange across the Taiwan Straits, aiming to realize the integrated development of both sides. 

Other projects include an intelligent system applied by the Fuzhou Customs as a nationally pioneering method to raise clearance efficiency and lower related costs. The average clearance time for emptying containers entering local port has been cut greatly from 36 hours to 30 minutes. 

Seaports in the provincial capital of Fuzhou and the island city of Xiamen have also piloted a digital approach for bills for loading ships, signaling container logistics at major Fujian ports entering a paperless era. Xiamen port is estimated to save at least 53 million yuan ($7.7 million) through digitalization, cutting 75 metric tons of carbon emission and streamlining 165,000 hours of work.

An aerial view of Xiamen port. [Photo/VCG]