HOHHOT, Oct. 31 -- North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has seen a trade surge in the first three quarters following the development of China-Mongolia border ports, authorities said Monday.

According to the figures released by the regional commercial department, nearly 30 million tonnes of freight was exported or imported between the two countries via the 10 ports in Inner Mongolia from January to September, up 32.3 percent year on year.

Mongolian businessman Menggen Shaga is delighted as a new policy has helped halve his trips to buy commodities at Erenhot, the largest port along the China-Mongolia border, to half a day.

As the policy enacted in May combines customs clearance with quarantine and inspection, he only has to wait to have his packages checked once to clear all of the port's procedures.

"The new policy simplifies everything and saves me time," he said.

Land ports along the China-Mongolia border have developed rapidly since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed in 2013, benefiting businesses on both sides of the border.

The ports on the China-Mongolia border also witnessed 2.52 million passenger trips in the first three quarters, up 14.8 percent year on year, according to the newly-released figures.