Checkpoints in the city will be up to world-class modern standards with Chinese characteristics by 2025, according to Zhuhai's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) on Checkpoint Development released at the Feb 22 executive meeting of the Municipal People's Government.

Twenty-seven measures in six chapters are included in the plan to bring Zhuhai checkpoints reasonable layout, advanced facilities, convenient and safe operation, as well as modified management and multimodal transport system in synergy with local economic development.

The plan lays out eight major tasks, namely optimizing functional layout, enhancing infrastructure construction, promoting "smart" checkpoint construction, accelerating port economy development, improving business environment, upgrading comprehensive management capacity, and deepening Zhuhai-Macao-Hong Kong cooperation.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai Port [File photo by Li Jianshu]

More advanced and convenient customs clearance and inspection models will be developed where yachts in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao will be able to travel freely. 

Construction of the Qingmao Checkpoint will be continued while Zhuhai (Jinwan) and Lianzhou General Aviation airports will have more opening-up businesses. The Doumen Vehicle Inspection Site will be put into operation. 

Projects including the Hengqin Checkpoint Phase II, reconstruction of Jiuzhou Port Checkpoint in Jida, and upgrading of Doumen Port Checkpoint will be moved forward. 

The number of Zhuhai's Category-I national ports increased from 8 to 10 by the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20). They are: Gongbei, Hengqin, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai Port, Zhuhai-Macao Cross-Border Industrial Zone Border, Qingmao, Jiuzhou, Port of Zhuhai, Wanzai, Wanshan, and Doumen. 

In total, the ports received 667 million border-crossing passengers, handled 20.09 million vehicles, flights, or ships, and processed 739 million metric tons of cross-border cargo during the 2016-20 period.