On 25 November, the WCO hosted a delegation from the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) which was headed by Vice Minister Hu, who is in charge of Anti-Corruption initiatives within Customs.  The delegation was composed of eight persons, including the Director General of the International Cooperation Department and the Deputy Director General of the Integrity Department.

Deputy Secretary General Sergio Mujica, on behalf of the WCO, welcomed the delegation and underscored the importance of integrity to the WCO and its Members.  He emphasized that integrity constitutes an integral part of the WCO Strategic Plan, specifically the pillar on organizational development.  He indicated that enhancing integrity requires a holistic approach which includes political will, automation and partnership with the private sector as key elements of an integrity strategy.

Vice Minister Hu conveyed her delegation’s gratitude for the warm welcome.  She commended the WCO for its Strategic Document on Preventing and Countering Corruption by Promoting Integrity in Customs that was presented to the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group under China’s chairmanship.  She also thanked the WCO for providing a platform for Members to discuss this important topic, namely the Integrity Sub-Committee, and shared GACC’s achievements in the context of the fight against corruption.

The Capacity Building Directorate explained what had prompted the WCO’s approach to integrity development, further presented the WCO integrity tools, and shared examples of the type of assistance the WCO provided in this area.

Vice Minister Hu expressed her wish to increase cooperation with the WCO in the area of integrity and anti-corruption, as both the WCO and GACC could benefit from this exchange of experiences.