PINGXIANG, Guangxi, Sept 1 – The government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China is upgrading the Youyiguan customs checkpoint, a crucial gateway for various goods, especially fruit from ASEAN member countries, into China.
The modernization effort incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate faster and more efficient cargo delivery.
Youyiguan is China’s largest land port, connecting goods from Vietnam and other ASEAN nations to China through the city of Pingxiang in Southern China’s Guangxi Autonomous Region. Fruit constitutes the majority of imports passing through this port.
Chinese authorities have now integrated smart AI technology into the customs clearance process at Youyiguan. This has significantly enhanced the port’s capacity with innovations such as remote-controlled cranes and unmanned Intelligent Guided Vehicles (IGVs). These technologies automate the unloading of containers, creating a “fast lane” that allows fruit and other products from Southeast Asia to enter the Chinese market more quickly.
The port’s transformation is aimed at fostering an industrial economy and promoting sustainable trade between China and Southeast Asian countries.
According to Deng Junrong, head of the project management department at Guangxi Pingxiang Integrated Free Trade Zone Development and Investment Co., Ltd., the goal of the smart port project is to reduce clearance costs, simplify procedures, minimize manual labor, and boost efficiency. The new system allows for 24-hour customs clearance for foreign goods.
During a trial, the AI system increased the number of imported fruit vehicles inspected from 100 to 180 per day.
In the future, the port plans to leverage Big Data and AI to further enhance its operations by fully integrating smart equipment. Youyiguan is currently transitioning from a traditional border crossing into an intelligent trading hub. -819 (TNA)
