China - November 15, 2024 Digital technology transforms cross-border logistics in China (Voice_over) Chinese logistics companies are using digital technology to speed up delivery times on goods to destinations around the world. At a logistics warehouse in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, staff are busy packing parcels for foreign clients. Thanks to its intelligent sorting system, goods from say five different online stores can be bundled together and shipped to the same person in just one order. (Sound_bite) Xue Weiwei, Director, International Business Division, local express company: "Five parcels from different online stores can be delivered to a customer at one time. This is what we call smart order consolidation technology. With this technology, we can provide cheaper and quicker logistics services to consumers and business owners." (Voice_over) Government officials say the system is also able to more accurately match vehicles and cargo to specific destinations resulting in better cost control. (Sound_bite) Meng Xiaoyu, deputy head, Department of Transport Services, Ministry of Transport: "In recent years, the integration of transportation resources into internet-based freight services has led to accurate matching between vehicles and cargo, improving shipping efficiency in a significant way. Compared with traditional means of freight that would cost two to three days on the road, internet-based freight can get the job done in eight to ten hours and at a cost that is about 6 percent to 8 percent lower." (Voice_over) Data from the General Administration of Customs shows that in the first three quarters of 2024, China's cross-border e-commerce imports and exports reached about 370 billion U.S. dollars, a roughly 11 percent increase year on year. [Restriction: No access Chinese mainland]