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Russian and Chinese customs officials have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fight against contraband by improving information exchange on goods crossing the border, a statement from the Russian Far East’s customs department said.

The agreement, reached in Vladivostok on November 9 by the Department officials and a five-member delegation from Harbin, China’s Heilongjiang province, aims to prevent the trafficking of goods and drugs across the Russian-Chinese border in both directions.

The sides will discuss details for the experimental anti-contraband data exchange agreement during the visit’s program, scheduled until Wednesday.

Currently, about 90 percent of all contraband-related crimes in the Russian Far East consist of smuggling to and from China, the statement reported.

During the visit, Harbin and Far Eastern customs officials will also talk about the functioning of checkpoints at the Russian-Chinese border as well as developing their handling capacities.

The Chinese delegation’s program also includes visiting customs offices in Nakhodka and Grodekovo, the statement said.

The first meeting of the Russian Far East and Harbin’s customs officials was held in 2004, when the sides outlined major lines of future partnership.

Currently, Russian and Chinese customs departments are putting their efforts in simplifying the goods and passenger registration procedures, increasing the checkpoints handling capacities.

Russia and China share a 2,500 kilometer (1,550 mile) border, and the Russian Far Eastern customs department performs customs registration at its 18 checkpoints, six of them located in Primorye.