Mengkang Port welcomed the first batch of Lao medicinal materials on Feb. 19, 2025. (Photo:China News Network/Tan Xinyue)

To optimize the process, the border inspection station established a "green channel" for the shipment and designated staff to assist the clearance.

Xiang Zhihong, head of a Yunnan pharmaceutical company, stated that the time from declaration to customs clearance for this batch of herbs was approximately 30 percent less than expected.

Kuang Longbin, instructor of the duty team at Mengkang Frontier Inspection Station, said they will continue to optimize the port clearance procedures to promote the development of the traditional Chinese medicine industry.

Located in south Yunnan’s Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous County, the Mengkang Port is an important land passage connecting Yunnan to Laos and serves as an essential gateway for China to Southeast Asia.

In November 2024, the port was designated as a border port for the import of medicinal herbs, opening a new channel for the trade of medicinal materials between China and Southeast Asia.