Erenhot entry-exit port in media spotlight

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2016-09-27

Over 30 journalists from Chinese and Mongolian news agencies visited the entry-exit city of Erenhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Sept 24.

Media organizations from Mongolia and China, such as Montsame (Mongolian News Agency), Mongolia National Newspaper, Mongolia Public Radio and Television, Xinhua News Agency and the People’s Daily, have attended the tour of entry-exit cities in Inner Mongolia, from Sept 24 to 29.

Aiming to promote border trade, the event is sponsored by the Information Office and the Port Office of? Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

During the first day, Chinese and Mongolian journalists toured around the local entry-exit offices, freight containers at railway stations, and the trading zone for border residents in Erenhot. They also conducted interviews with various people.

“The Erenhot entry-exit office has simplified the procedures of passing borders, and a smart platform for verification also has been put in use recently, which improves the efficiency of inspection and quarantine,” according to Saiyin Uliji, deputy director of the local port office.

To increase speeds at entry-exit posts, automated machines on self-service border passing have been installed and will be in operation soon. Through this machine, the time taken by every passenger will shorten to around 15 seconds, according to a local officer.

Journalists from China and Mongolia pose outside the Erenhot Port Office, on Sept 24. [Photo/chinanews.com]

As the first China-Mongolia trading zone, the Erenhot Border Trading Zone was opened to border residents from both countries on Sept 3. People crossing the border can purchase goods with a value of less than 8,000 yuan ($1,199) without any import duties, according to the policies of the local government.

Mongolian journalists interviewed Chao Ge, vice mayor of Erenhot, on local polices for Mongolian businessmen, the establishment of a cross-border economic zone and medical infrastructure in the area.

Chao stated that as a border city, Erenhot has been essential in promoting economic collaboration between China and Mongolia, and that four cross-border projects are currently under construction.

A reporter from Zamyn-Uud, a Mongolian town, said that he came to Erenhot in 1998, and few products imported from Mongolia were on the market then, but now Erenhot has a brand new look and various goods are being traded from both sides.

During the tour, the media organizations will also visit other port cities in Inner Mongolia, such as Hohhot and Ordos.