A Study On Predicament In Development Of Border Trade Market Of Takeshiken,a China-Mongolia Port

Takeshiken port is located in takeshiken Town,Qinghe County,Altay District,Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.It is the only China—Mongolia port open all year round in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Owe to the long opening time and superior traffic conditions,the export border trade of takeshiken port was once very developed.In 2014,the export trade volume of takeshiken port reached a historical peak of 379 million US dollars,accounting for 21.44% of Mongolia's total import to China.In that time,takeshiken port is the second largest port between China to Mongolia.Relying on the port,a large-scale wholesale market for daily industrial products had been formed in Takeshiken town,where the port is located.The operators in this market are mainly self-employed businessmen from all over the China,and their business activities are mainly in the form of border trade.However,since 2015,the export trade of takeshiken port has been shrinking rapidly,and the border trade market has not been spared.In 2015,the annual export trade volume of takeshiken port was only 10% of that of the previous year.In 2018,the amount was 12.79 million US dollars,only more than one third of that of2015.The proportion of takeshiken port‘s annual export trade volume of total export trade volume of China to Mongolia also dropped to 0.64%.Under such a situation,the border trader market's export trade volume has declined from US $67 million in 2013((accounting for 22% of the total export trade volume that year)to 36.047 million yuan(US $5.3389 million,31.08%)in 2017 and 39.7225 million yuan(US $6.027 million,46.9%)in 2018,far below the pre-landslide.Affected by the recession,the development of takeshiken border trade market has fallen into a predicament,and the number of border trade merchants has decreased significantly,due to the sharp drop in their income and severe impact on their livelihood.In 2009,there were 430 merchants engaged in border trade in the town(370 of them were nonlocal),and by 2019,the total number of merchants in the town was less than 180(about 120 border trade merchants).These businessmen generallyhave a strong sense of border security and responsibility.They often intentionally supervise the behavior and speech of outsiders,and actively participate in local joint defense,anti-terrorism drill and other activities.Their departure also make the "border trader as border guard" function of this border trade market,accumulates the "human resources" through the development of border trade to maintain the border security in the port area,weaked.According to the view of border traders,the main reasons for the depression and the decrease of the number of customers and their value are the debt crisis of Mongolia,the devaluation of Tugrik and the growth of the export scale of commodities of other ports between China to Mongolia as well as the third country(e.g Russia)to Mongolia.However,in the author's opinion,the decrease of the number and the value of Mongolian customers reflects the fact that the border trade market and the commodities its sold are lack market competitiveness,and the lack of market competitiveness is related to the change of location conditions caused by the change of the border trade market 's business activities as well as its poor market environment.In addition,the weak business strength of operators in the market and some bad business habits and concepts in several of them,such as the snobbish mentality to customers,especially retail shoppers,also have a considerable negative impact on the development of the border trade market.In view of the complexity of the predicament faced by the development of border trade market and its causes,the author believes that is necessary to strengthen the integration of the administrative management resources of Takeshiken port,to reduce the functional misplace and cross amongst the vertical management departments(e.g.customs and border inspection),local goverment and the Port Management Committee,and improve the overall planning and coordination of port development and management.At the level of specific measures,the relevant departments should take more integrating and effective measures to strengthen the supervision of the operation in the border trade market,enhance the convenience of people to participate the market,reduce the intermediate cost of the transaction,provide better conditions for operators to autonomous learning so that improving their comprehensive quality.On the other hand,through the exhibitions or other activities,we can narrow the " reciprocal distance" between the home and aboard market participants,improve their views on the Takeshiken market and change their position about "low-end market" to that market,so that the consumers can and are willing toachieve consumption upgrading in it,and make the Takeshken port,the significant node of one belt,one Road western corridor,become the wide-recognized and praised commodity supply base and material circulation center.Last but not least,the benefit of local people who had been living the port area for generations should be recognized and concerned.Therefore,it is necessary to strengthen the support for local ethnic minority people to participate in border trade,in the future of development of Takeshiken border trade market.