As the Lantern Festival approaches, the border trade market in Heihe City, Heilongjiang Province, is bustling with activity. Early in the morning, Bao Yan, general manager of the Zhong'an Border Trade Cooperative, receives a steady stream of New Year greetings and purchase orders on his phone. During this Spring Festival, Bao Yan and cooperative members have capitalized on the "golden channel" of border trade, turning policy benefits into tangible income gains while working busily at the national gateway.
At the Heihe Port border trade zone, cargo trucks line up neatly, waiting to be loaded and dispatched. Heihe is a Sino-Russian border city, facing Russia's Blagoveshchensk across the Heilongjiang River. According to border trade regulations, residents within 20 kilometers of the border can purchase daily necessities at designated markets with a daily tax-free quota of up to 8,000 RMB per person, exempt from import tariffs and taxes.
Bao Yan explained that while individual purchasing power is limited, combining quotas from multiple residents allows bulk purchases—for example, nine residents can jointly import a full truck of soybeans. The Zhong'an Cooperative facilitates such collective trading, enabling "bulk import and export" to enhance profitability and promote collaborative development among border residents.
Inside the trade point behind Bao Yan, imported soybeans and prepackaged foods worth over 1.8 million RMB await final clearance. More than 200 members and workers efficiently manage sorting, weighing, and customs procedures. "In the past, border trade was fragmented," Bao Yan noted. "Residents faced high costs, slow customs clearance, and complex settlements, especially before holidays. Now, with policy support and digital platforms, we confidently accept orders even during festivals."
Heihe Port has optimized customs processes through the "Longhutong" digital platform, which integrates identity verification, cross-border payments, and tax declarations online, reducing processing time by 50%. "Real-time settlements, automated documentation, and online tax filing eliminate bureaucratic hurdles, making trade more efficient and secure," Bao Yan added.
Tax authorities have further supported the cooperative by establishing a dedicated service team to guide compliance in quota aggregation and bulk soybean imports. "Despite temperatures below -20°C, tax officers provided hands-on assistance with policies and documentation, boosting our confidence to expand trade legally and profitably," Bao Yan acknowledged.
Red lanterns and festive couplets adorn the cooperative's entrance, bearing the message: "Border trade connects the world; mutual markets enrich residents." Bao Yan reflected, "Border trade isn’t just commerce—it’s a pathway to prosperity provided by the state. As a native of Heihe, I believe safeguarding this trade means safeguarding our livelihood."
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