36th WCO Asia-Pacific Regional Contact Meeting Concludes in Hong Kong
Over 80 customs officials from the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Hong Kong for the 36th WCO Regional Contact Meeting. Hong Kong Customs, newly re-elected as WCO Vice-Chair for the region, hosted the event, which focused on enhancing cooperation, sharing expertise, and addressing global challenges.
The 36th World Customs Organization (WCO) Asia-Pacific Regional Contact Meeting concluded successfully in Hong Kong on October 15, 2026. The event brought together more than 80 representatives from customs administrations and WCO regional bodies across the Asia-Pacific region.
The meeting's agenda featured a series of thematic reports and discussions, allowing participants to examine customs initiatives, enforcement strategies, and training experiences from multiple perspectives. The aim was to deepen mutual cooperation and exchange among regional members.
Hong Kong Customs Commissioner Chen Tse-tat delivered the opening address on October 13 in his capacity as WCO Vice-Chair for the Asia-Pacific region. He noted that Hong Kong Customs had been successfully re-elected as the region's Vice-Chair in June this year, beginning a new two-year term. He said the organisation would continue to strengthen collaboration with regional members, regional bodies, and international partners at the leadership level, building mutual trust to jointly address complex and evolving global challenges.
Commissioner Chen also expressed sincere gratitude to Macau Customs for co-hosting the meeting. He said their support not only fostered regional connections but also highlighted the complementary strengths and close cooperation unique to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.
The meeting marked the successful completion of the first major event since Hong Kong Customs assumed its renewed term as WCO Vice-Chair. During the next two years, Hong Kong Customs will actively organise a series of activities to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration, further strengthening cohesion among Asia-Pacific members. Looking ahead, Hong Kong Customs will continue to lead members in contributing to the vibrant development of customs affairs in the region.
