Top Biz News

Harbin fair attracts Russians

By Xiao Lan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-27 10:48

BEIJING - More made-in-China goods will be allowed to enter Russia's major stores thanks to both countries' efforts to promote normal customs clearance, a government official said on Friday.

"So-called 'gray customs clearance' will cease and exports to Russia will be conducted through the normal clearance, the Chinese and Russian governments are working together on that," said Sun Rao, vice-governor of Heilongjiang province. The province is located in the northeast of China, neighboring Russia.

"Gray customs clearance" refers to the practice of trading across the border without official customs approval at a tax rate far lower than the official level.

For the first time, more than 1,000 Russia professional buyers and dealers have been invited to participate in the China Harbin Trade Fair in June, a national level trade focusing on Russia and Northeast Asia.

Purchasing seminars on mechanical and electrical products, construction materials, as well as food and light industry will take place during the fair.

Sun said that buyers from Russia previously had little interest in discussing business with domestic suppliers, because the majority of the goods they purchased were exported to Russia through "gray customs clearance".

As a result, they failed to obtain legal documents and were only allowed to enter designated Chinese markets.