On March21 the head of Lhasa Customs, Wenxi Wang stated that Lhasa Customs will support and application to the state for the addition of duty free shops at entry/exit points with appropriate conditions, and that this will promote borderland area commerce and trade related tourist economy development.”

During the 13th Five-YearPlan, Tibet will become an essential route from the border of China opening down into south Asia. At the same time, Tibet has already been brought into the Silk Road economic belt, this has provided opportunity as well as a driving force for transportation, energy and interconnected communications as well as the rapid developments of Tibet’s trade, finance, logistics and tourist culture industry。

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said while giving a report regarding governmental work during 4th meeting of the 12th Chinese National People’s Congress that import tariffs would be decreased on a portion of consumer products and existing duty free shops would be added to. Wei Hong, deputy director of the Tibet Autonomous Region Tourism Development Committee expressed that Tibet is developing an open economy, and that in the process of adding duty free shops to entry and exit ports with appropriate conditions vigor will be brought to local economies and trade development.

Wenxi Wang indicated that customs points are propagated at the frontiers-of-openness, and that they shoulder the heavy responsibility of driving open development, “We are supporting Tibet’s integration with the Belt and Road strategy, entrance into construction of Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar economic corridor, speeding-up of construction for the important road leading into South Asia, promotion for construction of the Himalaya economic cooperation belt, and furthermore for the creation of a Gyirong county cross-border economic cooperation zone.”

The 5th and 6th central Tibet Work Symposiums have brought a “big present” to Tibet’s economic and social development, they have offered policy support. Wenxi Wang explained that, at present the basic facilities at the Gyirong port are just in the midst of being recovered and reestablished. It is feasible that this year there will be recovery growth made possible by the drive of small scale trade from Tibet external trade along the border.

Wenxi Wang also indicated that in the process of implementing the “Vitalize border areas and enrich the people living there” policy, Lhasa Customs will not only cultivate for development of borderland trade, it will also drive the open development of border trade in important cities and towns in borderland areas. Simultaneously, Lhasa Customs will also support establishment of specialty supervision and monitoring areas for customs in locations such as Lhasa and Shigatse that have suitable conditions.

According to official reports, during the 13th Five-Year Plan, Lhasa Customs will reduce taxes by 5.84 billion RMB, and intensification on a scale of six times when compared with the 11th Five-Year Plan. The 2015 tax income storehouse is at 1.35 billion RMB, making for a 19 year new high, and thereby, realization of integration and interconnectivity with national customs is being seen.