China's first Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) cross-border transport system at Ganqimaodu port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has greatly improved the customs clearance efficiency of imported goods and ensured the stable operation of domestic coal supply chain.
From January to September this year, the Ganqimaodu port handled nearly 30.9 million tons of import and export goods, an increase of 12.39 percent, hitting a record high.
With a daily coal import volume of up to 140,000 tons, what ensures the efficient and orderly operation of the busy port is a 6.19-kilometer-long AGV cross-border transport corridor spanning from Gashuunsuhait Port in Mongolia in the north to Ganqimaodu Port in China in the south.
Completed and operational in June 2024, the line features a fully enclosed, bidirectional four-lane road equipped with intelligent checkpoints and video surveillance facilities.
"A total of 6,000 magnets are installed in the 6-kilometer-long road. These magnets do not require power supply or network connection. They provide the vehicles with an electromagnetic induction coordinate information to guide the AGVs through the safest route to the cargo distribution site. The positioning accuracy can reach 3 millimeters," said Wang Bo, general manager of a local logistics company.
The improvement of efficiency of border check and customs joint inspection has also facilitated the unhindered entry of imported coals at the Ganqimaodu Port. The equipment installed along the fully enclosed road can realize automatic scanning, real-time capture, 360-degree monitoring and intelligent image review while vehicles are moving, reducing the inspection clearance time to up to three seconds.
"The AGV unmanned cross-border corridor and efficient inspection can ensure the rapid response and stable operation of the supply chain, providing a strong guarantee for the development of cross-border trade. The operating speed and the number of AGVs have been increased eight times since the beginning of the project, and are still undergoing tests for speed adjustment," said Wang Yong, head of a local logistics company.
Today, the efficiency of a single AGV at the Ganqimaodu Port is more than 6 times that of a double-trailer truck, enabling the annual transport capacity to reach 10 million tons
Meanwhile, the reform of intelligent facilities, intensive information system, digital operation management and facilitative comprehensive services is being progressed at a fast pace in other ports in Inner Mongolia.
The Ministry of Transport of China said that it will make efforts to accelerate the construction of an open, shared, safe and reliable international logistics supply chain system that covers the globe and provides strong guarantee, so as to better promote the inbound and outbound transport of goods.
"In the next step, we will accelerate the development of smart logistics, improve the management system and standards of new business forms of logistics, promote the digital transformation and upgrading of transportation infrastructure such as smart highways, smart waterways, smart ports and smart hubs, better serving and supporting the reduction of logistics costs for the whole society," said Meng Xiaoyu, deputy director of department of transport service of the ministry.
AGV cross-border transport system significantly improves customs clearance efficiency in Inner Mongolia's port
As the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) approaches, major exhibitors in the healthcare and skincare sectors have expressed excitement about showcasing their innovative products, fostering collaborations and expanding their reach in the Chinese market.
Themed "New Era, Shared Future," the 7th CIIE is scheduled for November 5-10 in Shanghai, featuring participation from 152 countries, regions and international organizations, including 77 countries and international organizations for national exhibitions and nearly 3,500 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions for business exhibitions.
Many multinationals view the expo as a prime opportunity to display their latest products and seek new collaborations.
Guan Hong, a representative for the Chinese branch of the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, reflected on the company's successful participation in previous CIIEs and expressed optimism about introducing innovative products to the Chinese market for the benefit of patients.
"Novartis has attended all the CIIE in the past 7 years. We've really witnessed the medicines [going] from the exhibition finally to the public. In the 2021 CIIE, we got a cooperation agreement with Hainan Bo'ao, and then we piloted the study before we got approval. Last year, we got a fast approval by NMPA (National Medical Products Administration), and now it's already benefited more than 10,000 patients in China. We really want to bring the fast-approach products and innovative products to China as soon as possible to benefit as many patients as possible," said Guan, referring to the annual Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) held in the resort town of Boao, southern China's Hainan Province and the China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), the country's top drug regulator.
Jean-Christophe Pointeau, global senior vice president of Pfizer, a U.S.-based pharmaceutical company, expressed optimism about signing memorandums of understanding (MoUs) at this year's edition, citing a favorable regulatory environment for foreign investment in China's biopharmaceutical sector.
"A lot of trade will happen within the ecosystem of healthcare, but also memorandums of understanding. You know that Pfizer, we have a series of MoUs we are going to sign. And recently, from the Third Plenum, we saw that the policies on high-quality development for innovation of the biopharmaceutical sector is one of them, but also policies to ease the foreign investment. So, this environment is extremely positive and extremely encouraging for the multinationals. And that's why Pfizer and other multinationals are extremely confident," Pointeau said, referring to the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held this July, which put great emphasis on high-quality development, technological innovation and industrial upgrading.
Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido has a history of embracing trends in technology, from using humanoid robots in their manufacturing process to developing an augmented reality app to help give users skincare tips. Toshinobu Umetsu, president and CEO of Shiseido China, said the company plans to emphasize its innovations incorporating its products with autonomous driving at this year's CIIE.
"For this year's CIIE, we looked at the 'mobility space' with autonomous driving, which is often seen as an iconic advanced innovation around the world. We invite visitors to discover more about the cornerstone on which Shiseido's innovations are built. So, [we have] globally-leading standards in product safety and quality management," he said.
As the world's first national-level import-themed expo, the CIIE is held annually at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.
Since its first edition in 2018, this expo has become an important stage spotlighting China's new development paradigm, a platform for high-level opening-up and a public good for the whole world.
Global firms gear up for 7th CIIE with innovative exhibits
