The city of Xi'an – capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province – is ramping up its preparations for the onset of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP trade agreement which will come into force on Jan 1 and is expected to provide a huge boost to the region's economy.

Once it takes effect, tariffs on goods traded in the bloc will be cut to zero immediately or gradually, with more than 90 percent of the goods in the bloc eventually having zero tariffs.

From January to November this year, Shaanxi province's imports and exports to RCEP member states totaled 172.92 billion yuan ($27.14 billion), accounting for nearly 40 percent of its total foreign trade during the same period, according to Xi'an Customs.

The main commodities were mechanical and electrical products, high-tech products, coal and lignite, coke and semi-coke, metal ore and other ore, as well as agricultural products.

Xi'an Customs has reportedly actively helped companies to seize the new opportunities that will come from the RCEP agreement. It has organized training activities for businesses to explain related policies, and listened to their opinions and suggestions.

During the first 11 months, Xi'an Customs issued 7,658 certificates of origin for goods exported to RCEP member states, with a total visa value of $686 million.

Xi'an Customs is said to be advising companies to boost their study of RCEP rules of origin, make arrangements for production and logistics in advance according to their products and industry supply chains, establish a concept of transnational industrial development, and improve their corporate management efficiency.