Eight departments including the Ministry of Transport issued the Opinions for Promoting the Development of “One-Bill System” and “One-Container System” for Multimodal Transport in an Accelerated Manner

Recently, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, the State Administration for Financial Regulation, the National Railway Administration, the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the State Post Bureau, and China National Railway Group Co., Ltd. jointly issued the Opinions for Promoting the Development of “One-Bill System” and “One-Container System” for Multimodal Transport in an Accelerated Manner (hereinafter referred to as the Opinions). It aims to further promote the high-quality development of multimodal transport, enhance and upgrade the quality and efficiency of transportation logistics, and better serve and support the realization of smooth flow of goods.

“One-Bill System” and “One-Container System” for Multimodal Transport are inevitable requirements for building a modern comprehensive transportation system. The Opinions clarifies that efforts will be made over the next 3 to 5 years to further improve the regulatory and institutional frameworks for “One-Bill System” and “One-Container System, ” accelerate the opening and sharing of multimodal transport information, expand the service functions of multimodal transport filing and certification, strengthen key multimodal transport enterprises. By then, the “One-Bill System” service model, where shippers entrust once, settle costs once, and insure goods once with the multimodal transport operator being responsible for the entire process, and the “One-Container System” service model for container transport, which involves no container switching or unpacking during the delivering of container to its destination, will be further promoted to fully enhance the quality and efficiency of integrated transport services and provide better support for the construction of the new development pattern.

Focusing on the prominent issues that currently restrict the development of “One-Bill System” and “One-Container System” for multimodal transport, the Opinions deploys 15 key tasks in six areas.

The first is to promote the interconnection and sharing of multimodal transport information, accelerate the opening of multimodal transport data, support the development of multimodal transport information integration services, and promote the application of standardized digital multimodal transport accompanying documents.

The second is to promote innovation in the application of international multimodal transport filing and certification, accelerate the promotion and application of international multimodal transport bills of lading, and advance the development of digital international multimodal transport bills of lading.

The third is to expand the service functions of “One-Bill System” for multimodal transport, explore granting multimodal transport filing and certification with the function of proof of ownership, explore the development of financial and insurance services for “One-Bill System” for multimodal transport, and optimize the customs clearance supervision of “One-Bill System” for multimodal transport.

The fourth is to improve the service system of “One-Container System” for multimodal transport, enhance the “no container switching during the delivery” cooperation mechanism, optimize the “no unpacking during the delivery” process management, and improve the “one container for the whole delivery process” service capacity.

The fifth is to vigorously cultivate multimodal transport operators, encourage leading enterprises to transform into multimodal transport operators, and guide multimodal transport-related enterprises to strengthen collaboration and coordination.

The sixth is to improve multimodal transport standards and regulations, enhance the “One-Bill System” standards, and promote the alignment of multimodal transport service rules.

According to the Opinions, departments and units at all levels, including transport, commerce, customs, financial supervision, railways, civil aviation, and postal services, should strengthen coordination, improve working mechanisms, enhance risk management, and promptly address institutional, policy, and technical issues related to the development of “One-Bill System” and “One-Container System.” Local authorities are encouraged to carry out pilot projects for “One-Bill System” and “One-Container System” for multimodal transport based on local conditions. Projects that meet pilot requirements and are highly innovative with outstanding demonstration effects will be included in the pilot projects for building national strength in transportation following the established procedures.

In the next step, the Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with relevant departments and organizations, will strengthen organizational leadership, improve systems and standards, enhance policy support, and reinforce demonstration and guidance to fully promote the development of “One-Bill System” and “One-Container System” for multimodal transport and accelerate the construction of a modern comprehensive transportation system.