Yangtze River Delta posts record trade as eco-innovation thrives
The Yangtze River Delta region's foreign trade set a new record in the first 10 months of the year, with the total value of imports and exports reaching 13.21 trillion yuan ($1.81 trillion), according to Shanghai Customs.
This represented a 5.3 percent year-on-year growth and accounted for 36.7 percent of China's total trade value during the period.
At the heart of the eco-green integrated development demonstration zone in the Yangtze River Delta — spanning Shanghai's Qingpu district, Jiangsu province's Wujiang district and Zhejiang province's Jiaxing city — a trial area called Waterfront Living Room is rapidly developing.
A drone marked with China Customs decals recently launched a mission to capture high-definition images of local wetlands, forests and tidal flats — areas traditionally difficult for ground-based inspections to access.
The images were transmitted via 5G to Shanghai Customs' inspection lab, allowing experts to efficiently create detailed ecological maps and improve the monitoring of invasive pests.
Since the establishment of the eco-green integration zone, customs departments in Qingpu, Wujiang and Jiaxing have collaborated under the principle of unified governance, without disrupting administrative jurisdictions. Initiatives have included joint biological security monitoring and coordinated responses to biosecurity threats.
"Our customs offices work closely to align with the green and integrated development goals," said Chen Chao, deputy section chief of the second goods control and inspection division at Qingpu Customs.
"We have formed a cross-regional task force to strengthen pest monitoring, information sharing and emergency responses. This project is among the first collaborative customs enforcement efforts in the demonstration zone," Chen added.
These innovative measures are said to highlight the region's commitment to advancing eco-friendly development alongside robust trade growth.