HONG KONG, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong Customs, in the capacity of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Vice-Chair for the Asia-Pacific Region, hosted a three-day Regional Conference on Smart Customs from Wednesday to Friday, gathering key global stakeholders to advance digital transformation in customs operations.

This inaugural large-scale regional workshop on smart customs brought together over 200 representatives from the WCO, global customs administrations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Secretariat and the innovation and technology sector.

In his opening address, Chris Tang Ping-keung, secretary for security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, underscored the vital role of smart customs in supporting the Asia-Pacific region's dynamic trade flows and addressing transnational challenges.

Tang highlighted four key pillars of smart customs initiatives in the region, namely data-driven intelligence, digital single-window trade, intelligent inspection, and multilateral connectivity, citing Hong Kong Customs' AI-driven video analytics system "WiseShield" and Project "ValidAP" as examples of innovation.

He called for harmonized digital standards, a narrower digital divide and stronger public-private cooperation to ensure growth and resilient supply chains.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Chan Tsz-tat, commissioner of Customs and Excise of the HKSAR government, outlined Hong Kong Customs' transformative initiatives, including the application of AI, blockchain and big data, and emphasized that the success of smart customs relies on mutual trust, partnership and collaboration.

Hong Kong Customs is committed to advancing digitalization of customs practices, strengthening global trade connectivity and building resilient supply chains, he said.

Tech firms from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong displayed intelligent patrol robots and smart port community systems at the exhibition booths, drawing strong interest from customs delegates across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and ASEAN.

The conference featured a series of presentations and panel discussions that facilitated a robust exchange of experiences and best practices. Delegates also participated in field visits to Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao to observe firsthand the customs authorities' application of innovative technologies in their operations.

The conference concluded with a renewed commitment from all participants to drive the smart customs agenda, leveraging technology and partnership to create a more efficient, secure and connected future for global trade. ■