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| Sino－US cooperation in container security |
| CCTV.COM 2003-07-30 09:07:24 |
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China and the United States have signed an agreement, allowing American customs officials to inspect US－bound cargo containers leaving China. The Container Security Initiative, signed in Beijing on Tuesday, aims to strengthen anti－terrorism cooperation. Two Chinese port cities, Shanghai and Shenzhen, have been chosen as pilot cities.
Under the agreement, US customs officials will be sent to Shanghai and Shenzhen ports to help identify and check high－risk containers before they are sent to the United States. Under the terms agreed, they have to respect China's sovereignty and abide by Chinese laws. Chinese customs officials can also be sent to US ports.
The initiative is an important part of the US global anti－terrorism strategy. It is hoped that the initiative will help the US prevent terrorists from hiding weapons or dangerous materials in cargo containers.
Director of the General Administration of Customs Mu Xinsheng said during the signing ceremony for the agreement that China will do its best to bring initiative into operation as early as possible.
The US has selected 20 large ports around the world from which to execute the container security initiative. Fifteen of them are currently implementing the initiative. US customs officials are due to arrive at the two Chinese port cities in the near future.
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Editor: Xiao Wei CCTV.com
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