The second Postal Regulation Forum, organized by China Post and the UPU, opened today in Hangzhou, China.
Some 100 participants from 28 countries are exchanging their experiences of postal regulation. How Posts can ensure that all citizens and businesses have access to high-quality postal services that are affordable and adaptable to each country’s unique political and technological environment is one of many themes.
Against a background of diversification of services, the forum is also discussing regulating financial services offered by the postal network. Some Posts are making profits by providing financial services. How should these services be regulated? Should the Posts concentrate on micro-financing? Should central banks or financial regulation authorities include postal financial services in their policy? Talks are also focussing on market liberalization and financing the universal service obligation (USO).
At the forum’s start, China presented its initiatives to introduce regulation such as last year’s legislation on how to organize and finance the USO. Its government sees regulation as a key to fair competition in the sector. Around 24,000 supervisors oversee its application and an express delivery licence system protects the rights of different businesses.
The forum ends on May 27.