Pharmaceuticals and medical equipment are flowing smoothly within fully automated professional storage areas for inbound and outbound operations; trucks fully loaded with cross-border e-commerce goods pass through checkpoints one after another; cultural artworks from around the world are gathered in the bonded zone for rigorous inspection... On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone presents a bustling scene. As Beijing's first comprehensive bonded zone and the nation's first airport-type comprehensive bonded zone, it has developed multiple specialized industries including pharmaceuticals, culture, processing and manufacturing, and scientific research innovation. According to data from Beijing Customs, in January this year, the Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone recorded imports and exports totaling 8.235 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 6.5%.
The import channel for rare disease drugs and clinically急需 drugs has been further smoothed. The Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone is a key park and important carrier for Beijing's "Two Zones" initiative. In recent years, leveraging benefits from policy innovation, it has established a full pharmaceutical health industry chain layout characterized by cross-border medical trade. Keyuan Xinhai (Beijing) Medical Products Trade Co., Ltd. is a large comprehensive service-oriented pharmaceutical enterprise within the zone. Inside the company's warehouse, a shelf labeled "Rare Disease Drug Storage Area" holds neatly stacked boxes of medicines with English labels, each box printed with a traceable QR code. These include Voxzogo (vosoritide), the world's first drug for treating achondroplasia in children. Previously, patients with rare diseases often had to purchase drugs available abroad but not in China through personal import channels, which posed safety risks and unstable supply, leaving patients vulnerable to treatment interruptions. The "bonded inventory" model has resolved the challenge of importing rare disease drugs. Pilot medical institutions can apply in advance to maintain a bonded stock of drugs exceeding short-term needs within the bonded zone. Whenever there is clinical demand, the drugs can be cleared through customs multiple times under a single approval. This model has encouraged overseas pharmaceutical companies to recognize the potential of China's rare disease treatment market, leading them to proactively reduce prices and significantly lower the financial burden on patients. The annual treatment cost for pediatric achondroplasia has decreased from 1.55 million yuan to 990,000 yuan. Since June last year, this drug has been included in Beijing's inclusive health insurance, allowing patients to receive an additional 35% reimbursement annually. In January this year, another rare disease drug for treating pediatric Wilms' tumor announced a 26% price reduction, bringing further benefits to patients.
On the other side of the Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone lies a large specialized distribution center for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. This center has also achieved import supply for life-saving drugs such as Mitotane tablets for adrenocortical carcinoma, Clobazam tablets for refractory epilepsy, and Metyrapone capsules for Cushing's syndrome to hospitals within the national rare disease diagnosis and treatment network, offering hope to more patients. Statistics show that in the previous year, the import value of pharmaceutical materials and drugs through the Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone reached 92.93 billion yuan, with further improvements in the import channels for rare disease and clinically急需 drugs. Additionally, leveraging convenient services such as 7x24 hour预约 clearance provided by Tianzhu Customs, drug clearance times have been reduced to within one hour, shifting from a "people waiting for drugs" to a "drugs waiting for people" scenario. For instance, the drug for treating Wilms' tumor landed at Beijing Capital International Airport at 3 PM and was delivered to Beijing Tiantan Hospital by 5 AM the next morning.
The "bonded + maintenance" model has facilitated the entry of the first aircraft engine for repair. Beyond the pharmaceutical industry, high-end processing and manufacturing are also accelerating their presence in the Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone. In December last year, Beijing Aero Engine Services Limited (BAESL), the first professional company in Mainland China and the fourth globally specializing in the overhaul of Rolls-Royce Trent high-thrust engines, commenced operations. Inside the main engine overhaul workshop, pulse production lines are arranged in an orderly fashion, with advanced equipment such as high-end CNC grinding machines, fluorescent inspection equipment, vertical CNC grinders, and balancing machines operating smoothly. The first Rolls-Royce Trent high-thrust engine to enter Mainland China for repair is currently undergoing maintenance. Compared to ordinary bonded maintenance, aircraft engine repair involves a complex variety and large quantity of parts, as well as diverse maintenance methods. Tianzhu Customs has ensured immediate handling, same-day resolution, and no overnight delays for bottlenecks and difficulties in the project, guaranteeing the smooth commencement of repairs for the first engine. As of February 4th, one engine for repair and three engines for training and testing have entered the zone, with a total value of approximately 150 million yuan. The company is expected to reach its full production target of overhauling 250 engines annually by 2034. The successful start of repairs on the first engine will fill the gap in the high-thrust aircraft engine maintenance sector within Mainland China, significantly enhancing the civil aviation industry chain's self-maintenance capability and safety levels. The second engine has already entered the facility, with related maintenance work expected to begin before the Lunar New Year.
The "bonded + e-commerce" model enables same-day delivery for New Year goods. In the cross-border e-commerce warehouses of the Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone, staff are packing various cosmetics, alcoholic beverages, and other goods based on orders. During the Spring Festival period, order volume increased by 20% to 30%. Popular categories include skincare products from brands like Estée Lauder and Lancôme, as well as domestic liquors such as Moutai, Wuliangye, and Fenjiu. The "Wangfujing Global Purchase" New Year goods season promotion is currently active, offering discounts up to approximately 70% off the corresponding market prices. Furthermore, logistics have accelerated. Cross-border e-commerce orders can achieve next-day delivery in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. For consumers in Beijing, orders placed in the morning can be delivered as early as the afternoon on the same day. Relying on the "offline display + online ordering" business model, Tianzhu Customs supports e-commerce companies in setting up offline display stores in different locations, addressing the challenge of customers being unable to see or touch cross-border e-commerce goods, thereby enhancing the domestic consumer experience and providing more product selection channels. Currently, 37 enterprises are engaged in cross-border e-commerce related business within the Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone, attracting several leading cross-border e-commerce companies to establish a presence. Since commencing cross-border e-commerce supervision in 2019, Tianzhu Customs has supervised nearly 23 million import e-commerce order lists, involving over 60 million items with a total value exceeding 10 billion yuan.
Overall, in the previous year, the Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone achieved total imports and exports of 119.793 billion yuan, with imports ranking sixth among all comprehensive bonded zones nationally. Customs officials stated that this year, the Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone will focus on promoting the high-quality development of specialized industries such as pharmaceuticals, culture, processing and manufacturing, business consumption, and scientific research innovation, contributing to a successful start for the next Five-Year Plan period.