The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Thursday signed a cooperation memorandum agreeing to further improve China's trade environment and boost trade facilitation.

The MOC and GAC agreed to strengthen the current customs clearance facilitation measures and introduce a 24-hour appointment system for customs clearance to quicken the handling of export goods under China's external investment and foreign-aid projects.

Both government agencies acceded to work together to promote imports and exports of software and cultural products.

The memo said the MOC and GAC will encourage advanced manufacturing and the modern services industry to start business in free trade zones and other areas under the customs' special supervision and support service outsourcers and foreign companies to establish research and development (R&D) centers in China.

Convenience will also be offered to enterprises engaged with processing trade for their sales of products in the domestic market, according to the memo, which was signed by Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and GAC minister Yu Guangzhou.