The Youyiguan Port, also known as Friendship Pass, a critical land gateway connecting China and Vietnam, is on the cusp of a major transformation with its smart port project nearing completion. This ambitious initiative is set to revolutionize cross-border trade by enabling round-the-clock, unmanned, and intelligent customs clearance.
Revolutionizing Clearances
The Friendship Pass Smart Port Project, leveraging satellite navigation and 5G technology, is revolutionizing customs clearance at the China-Vietnam border, aiming for 24/7, unmanned, and intelligent operations. This initiative is a crucial part of strengthening Pingxiang’s border region capacity and boosting the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.
Previously, traditional customs procedures at Friendship Pass were cumbersome, requiring officers to physically unload goods for manual inspection. This often led to significant delays for truck drivers. As one driver from Henan province lamented, “Normally, crossing takes us two or three days. There are too many vehicles, and the port’s handling capacity is limited, so we just have to wait.” Another driver, hauling goods from Shandong, echoed this sentiment, expecting “another two or three days to cross the border.”
However, the new smart inspection platform technology at Friendship Pass has introduced automated, round-the-clock inspection processes, eliminating the need for drivers to wait on-site. This technological upgrade has already led to a surge in customs clearance volume this year, with a daily average of approximately 1,500 vehicle crossings.
Despite the significant improvement, drivers still express a desire for even faster clearance times, with the current two-to-three-day wait still considered “a bit long.” Nevertheless, both drivers interviewed expressed strong support for the smart port project, acknowledging its potential to further streamline operations and reduce their waiting times.
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Source: Guangxi
