China-Russia ports deal helps speed commerce

Fifteen trucks loaded with goods crossed the China-Russia border at Suifenhe-Pogranichnyy Port on Friday without having to undergo a second customs inspection after an agreement on customs procedures was officially launched between the two countries.

"Under the agreement, specific goods, including fruit and vegetables shipped from China to Russia, and processed timber from Russia to China can pass through the two designated ports directly," said Wang Fukuan, director of Harbin Customs.

The ports are Suifenhe-Pogranichnyy and Dongning-Burtaphca, which are both near Suifenhe, a county-level city in Heilongjiang province.