The Inauguration of WCO Asia Pacific Regional Training Center(RTC)
was performed grandly in SCC

  Minister of Customs, Vice Mayor of Shanghai, Distinguished guests, Dear colleagues, Ladies and gentlemen,  It is a great pleasure and honor for me to attend the inauguration of the WCO Regional Training Center (RTC) at the prestigious Shanghai Customs College. I should like to express my sincere appreciation to the China Customs for its foresight and the decision to host this important regional training centre on behalf of the WCO. Indeed, this contribution to regional cooperation is another example of leadership shown by the Chinese authority. I should also like to thank my customs colleagues in China for preparing this memorable event and for the hospitality they have shown to us since our arrival in this dynamic country with rich history and culture.
   Today customs community is faced with enormous challenge in the rapidly changing environment of the 21st Century. Undoubtedly there is growing recognition of the vital role that a well-functioning and ethical customs administration can play in revenue collection, the competitiveness of national economies, and the security and protection of society. More precisely, on one hand trade community requires more expeditious movement of goods, which resulted in the WTO Doha agenda on trade facilitation with much focus on customs procedures. The first substantial meeting of negotiations was held in Geneva this week where the WCO was invited to explain our available tools. On the other hand, we are increasingly asked to play a proactive role in safeguarding trade security against all risks including revenue fraud, infringement of intellectual property right (IPR), drug trafficking, and more recently terrorist threats. Indeed, the APEC leaders, including Chinese President Hu Jintao, talked much about global security over the last weekend in Santiago, Chili.
   In responding to this challenge, the WCO held a High-Level Strategic Group meeting in Brussels last week to discuss the way forward for security and facilitation of international trade supply chain. During the meeting China Customs, in the capacity as Vice-Chair of the WCO, made a valid contribution on behalf of the Asia Pacific region in pointing out the importance of balance between facilitation and security. It will be essential to develop standards for enhanced risk analysis based on advance information, covering the entire supply chain, while facilitating the movement of legitimate cargo. These new measures should be based on the principles contained in the Revised Kyoto Convention, a blueprint for modern customs operations, and should be designed not to unduly compromise the WCO’s facilitation efforts to date. In order to achieve this goal, we will need to enhance customs-to-customs networks and customs-trade partnerships, built on the existing WCO instruments.
    Let me provide another example. Over the last two days China Customs organized the very successful Regional Forum on Protection of IPR. The participants adopted the Shanghai Initiative which contains "Risk analysis, information gathering and communication" as one of major recommendations. This is precisely another area where the WCO instruments offer solutions.
“    The brief overview of the recent WCO-related events reveals the need for steady implementation of WCO standards. It is therefore essential to develop the skill and integrity of customs officials to enable them to acquire the necessary skill so that their performance can be based on international standards. While capacity building has always been a priority for the WCO, the organization has recently embarked on new initiatives to step up our efforts in this field. One such scheme under consideration is the possibility of setting up a new capacity building directorate within the Secretariat as directed by the Council during their June sessions. Another avenue is the regional approach whereby each region will explore the establishment of mechanisms that will facilitate faster and better responses to the needs of individual members.
  The RTC is a key component of the regional approach. When it comes to capacity building, human resource management is undoubtedly the most important element, as capable management and personnel are indispensable to establishing a well-functioning organization. It is thus crucial to provide customs officers with exposure and opportunity to develop their own capacity. This is why we regard the RTC as the most suitable and effective way to tackle this challenge among officers of administrations having proximity and similar backgrounds as a common denominator. Participants will be able to gain the necessary expertise and attitude to effectively implement customs-related standards. In some cases they may find clues to possible solutions through the exchange of experience among themselves.
   The Asia-Pacific region again takes a lead in this field. We are fortunate to have several centers of excellence for human resource development in this region. The Shanghai Customs College has a long and excellent history in providing leaders in China Customs. It has also generously extended its service to neighboring administrations by offering courses to foreign customs officers. With the new WCO banner, we expect the Shanghai Customs College to continue to grow and further improve its status as a source of customs expertise.
   Luckily, we have five RTCs to cover the vast and diversified Asia Pacific region. In addition to China, RTCs have been established in Hong Kong China, India, Japan and Malaysia. It is imperative that these RTC’s coordinate their approach by sharing experiences that will enable them to better respond to regional training needs. Bearing this necessity in mind, I should mention that a meeting of RTCs was held in Bangkok last September in an effort to establish a regional training network, in close cooperation with the regional Vice-Chair’s office and the Regional Office for Capacity Building in Bangkok. This emerging mechanism will offer a good example to other regions facing similar concerns and challenges. Of course I personally hope that the RTC network will be extended to others outside the Asia Pacific region. In this connection, earlier this week I was delighted to meet more than 40 customs officers from 27 African countries who are receiving technical assistance in rules of origin in this College. This is a laudable effort by Chinese administration that will better serve the integration of developing countries into the global trading system
    Finally, let me once again express my thanks to the China Customs for showing leadership in the region and for responding positively to the challenge facing the international customs community.
   I wish you every success.
  Thank you very much for your attention.