On 23 September 2005, Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (the Bureau) and YICT signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to jointly undertake an initiative called Create a Favourable Port Administration, which aims to increase inspection and quarantine efficiency at Yantian. Both the Bureau and YICT have agreed to streamline inspection procedures for imports and exports, expediting cargo declaration at the port.

Both parties will continue to cooperate in areas which include enlarging an onsite facility for handling inspection and quarantine, establishing a business coordination team and strengthening follow-up supervision at the port.

Since July 2005, the Bureau and YICT have worked closely to improve business procedures and increase cargo declaration efficiency at the port. On 1 August, the Bureau at Yantian started implementing pre-declaration documentation. This allows customers to apply to the Bureau for pre-declaration documents five days prior to a vessel arriving at the port. On 18 August, the Bureau launched electronic inspection instruction trials at Yantian, allowing for the electronic transmission of instructions instead of manual delivery. These two measures alone have helped reduce the time required for cargo inspection by 1 to 1.5 days.

Apart from extending the inspection services to 365 days at Yantian since 1 July, the Bureau has also installed a Self-Help Automatic Data Interchange System at YICT, enabling customers to interchange data for export cargo via the internet from their own offices. When they enter an original transit number, the system will automatically generate a new number, resulting in savings in both time and effort. In cooperation with a bank, the Bureau has placed a card system on a trial since 1 September, allowing for the automatic transfer of service charges. Port users can simply scan these cards to pay electronically upon declaration, and do away with the need for cash payments.

Importers and exporters will benefit from this improved port operating environment. The Bureau and YICT have been continuously rolling out enhancement programmes for years to provide better service to importers and exporters. With these efforts, declaration efficiency at the port will be further increased. It will be faster and more convenient to ship cargo via Yantian.