The 2019 UPU Global Conference on Cross-Border Cooperation in an E-Commerce World opened on 26 November in Xiamen, People’s Republic of China. This is the first conference jointly organized by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and China on the theme of global cooperation on cross-border e-commerce. The conference is a high-level global event hosted by the UPU and jointly organized by the State Post Bureau of China, China Post Group and Xiamen Municipal People’s Government. Mr. Liu Aili, Chairman of China Post Group, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

The conference attracted a total of more than 380 representatives from postal departments of 102 countries and regions, and 8 international organizations including the UPU and the World Customs Organization. During the two-day conference, representatives from various countries would conduct in-depth discussions on topics closely related to cross-border e-commerce, including global supply chain regulation, trade and customs facilitation, mail transport via railways, digitization and security and share successful experiences in the cooperation between posts and customs.

Mr. Liu Aili pointed out in his address that in recent years, thanks to the ever-deepening economic globalization, the steady growth of China's economy and the transformation and upgrading of the consumer market, China's cross-border e-commerce market has maintained rapid growth. The transaction value is expected to reach 11 trillion yuan (about $1.56 trillion) in 2019 and China is expected to become the world's largest cross-border B2C consumer market. He also mentioned that, riding the rapid growth trend of cross-border e-commerce in China and depending on the multilateral cooperation framework enabled by the Universal Postal Union, China Post has improved its international product system, covering international EMS, international parcels, E-packet, and international small packets, and one-stop services and overseas warehousing services. Through 912 international airmail routes, it can now reach more than 200 countries and regions around the world. China Post has worked closely with China Customs to optimize mail regulation and inspection, improving the efficiency of clearance, and ultimately promoting the sound development of the cross-border e-commerce market. As the preferred logistics channel for cross-border e-commerce in China, China Post handled 1.2 billion items related to international business in 2018, and over one third of the country’s outbound light and small items.

As an important player in the global cross-border e-commerce market and an active supporter of multilateral cooperation systems, China Post readily responds to the Belt and Road Initiative and diligently follows the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. With strong support from the UPU, China Post has introduced the Guidelines for Establishing an International Postal Rail Transport Service to promote the international mail transport via trains. The close cooperation with China Customs, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway), and postal, customs, and railway administrations along the Belt and Road has enabled large-scale mail transport via the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Block Trains, the Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe Block Trains and the Zhengzhou-Xinjiang-Europe Block Trains, which will help open up new channels for cross-border e-commerce transport.

“One World, One Postal Network”, Liu Aili said. With a history of 145 years, the UPU has played an important role in maintaining the universal service obligations, organizing and improving international postal services, and promoting international cooperation and shared development. China Post has continued to advocate and implement the multilateral cooperation system under the UPU framework, adhering to the multilateralism and striving to maintain the postal cooperation mechanism. In the era of e-commerce, the postal network based on the UPU framework is still the world's largest physical delivery network, and the main delivery channel of cross-border e-commerce items. He called on the posts to actively explore new ways and approaches of pragmatic cooperation, continuously seek for innovations in postal equipment, technologies, products, services, partnerships and other aspects, and push forward key cooperation projects such as new cross-border transportation products, mail transport via international railways, and overseas warehouse construction. He further called on the posts to stay committed to maintaining the stability of the multilateral system, comprehensively deepen cross-border cooperation in the era of e-commerce, and promote the realization of win-win development of the posts.

Mr. Liu Aili stressed that China Post would like to join hands with all parties to grasp the trend of the times and shoulder the responsibilities. Besides, it would devote to achieving common development for all, promote win-win results with mutual benefits, and act in the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, contributing to push forward the Belt and Road Initiative, build a community with a shared future for mankind, and write a new chapter together.

In recent years, cross-border e-commerce, especially cross-border B2C business, has maintained strong growth and become a new engine for global economic growth. Post is a major player driver and beneficiary of cross-border e-commerce. As the traditional letter business has been shrinking, postal transformation should be directed towards cross-border e-commerce packages for the international market. This is mainly due to the development of cross-border e-commerce. According to the research by relevant agencies, cross-border parcels in 2018 were mainly clothing, consumer electronics, healthcare and beauty products. Seventy-two percent of the parcels were lighter than 1 kilogram, which is highly compatible with the strength of the posts in the delivery of high-value, lightweight and small packages.

During the conference, Liu Aili met with delegations from Hongkong Post, Macao Post, Georgian Post and the Dominican Post, and witnessed China Post’s signing of cooperation agreements with Georgian Post and the Dominican Post.

When meeting with Ms. Cathy CHU, the Postmaster General of Hongkong Post, and her entourage, Liu Aili introduced the great changes China Post has made in the past year in its efforts to reform and develop the delivery business and build a "national team" in the courier industry. Liu Aili hoped that the two sides should grasp the development trend of the times, strengthen communication and seize opportunities such as the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to enhance cooperation in advancing the transformation of traditional postal services, boosting the development of e-commerce parcels, adjusting terminal dues, shortening delivery time, and implementing the "go-global " strategy，which helps to further streamline operation procedures, shorten time limit, reduce costs, achieving new breakthroughs in postal cooperation for each other.

In the interview with Derby Lau Wai Meng, Director of Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT), Liu Aili said that the Chinese mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region have frequent exchanges and close ties, and China Post and Macao Post have always maintained good cooperative relationship. He also expressed the hope to further strengthen cooperation between the two parties, expand the depth and breadth of cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, further improve the level of express delivery services, shorten the delivery time limit, and jointly build an integrated fast postal network in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In the meanwhile, both sides should continue to promote good cooperation in terms of philately and other businesses.

Liu Aili extended a warm welcome to the delegation led by Levan Chikvaidze, Director General of Georgian Post. Liu also expressed the hope that both sides should strengthen cooperation under the “Belt and Road Initiative” framework, improve the information quality of existing products, launch a variety of products and services suitable for market needs, jointly expand cross-border e-commerce market, and promote the rapid development of bilateral business and China-Europe business. Levan Chikvaidze praised the achievements of China Post through its reform and development policy, and hoped that Georgia, as a country locating at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, could tap its own geographical advantage to further expand the cooperation channels between the two parties, and to jointly promote the development of cross-border e-commerce. The two sides also signed a memorandum of cooperation.

While meeting with Director General of the Dominican Post, Carlos Modesto Guzmán Valerio and his entourage, Liu Aili said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Dominican Republic, bilateral economic and trade development has grown rapidly, and the two sides have enjoyed close postal cooperation. It is hoped that the visit of Mr. Guzmán would further deepen the understanding about China Post and promote the in-depth development of bilateral cooperation. Guzmán introduced that the Dominican Republic has an outstanding geographical advantage in the Caribbean region, and he hoped to deepen the extensive cooperation between the two posts in the future and explore more cooperation fields. The two parties also signed an EMS bilateral cooperation agreement.

On the afternoon of November 26, Liu Aili inspected the Xiamen International Mail Processing Center, and fully recognized the "three in one" model which has brought postal enterprises, freight forwarding companies, and regulatory authorities together to achieve integrated supervision of postal items, commercial express delivery items and e-commerce items. This new practice has provided great convenience to customers, freight forwarding and courier companies, and regulatory authorities, which has achieved a multiple win-win situation, and provided successful experience for other postal branches. Liu Aili demanded that the "three in one" model in Xiamen should be carefully summarized and rolled out to the whole nation. It is also necessary to scientifically and rationally plan the functions of different zones in the center to continuously improve the level of informatization, standardization, and automation, which could help further optimize the operating process, improve working efficiency, and build a high standard, high profit, convenient and efficient international port so as to provide strong support for international business development.

UPU Global Conference on Cross-border Cooperation in an E-commerce World opens.

Mr. Liu Aili inspects the International Mail Processing Center in Xiamen.