Recently, a reporter learned from the General Office of the Ruili Municipal Party Committee in Yunnan Province that the “First Ruili Jiegao Jade Rough Stone Second Public Auction,” organized by the China Jewelry and Jade Ornament Industry Association and the Myanmar Jade and Gemstone Association and undertaken by Ruili Limin Trading Group, will be held on October 3 this year. The purpose of this second public auction is to further strengthen cooperation and exchange between China and Myanmar in the jewelry and jade sector, accelerate trade and circulation in the China-Myanmar border region, promote bilateral economic and trade relations, and achieve common development and prosperity for both sides. In March of this year, the People’s Government of Ruili City in Yunnan Province signed a “Cooperation Agreement on Hosting the Second Public Auction and Jewelry Trade” with the Myanmar Jade and Gemstone Association. The rough jade stones to be auctioned at the Jiegao area of Ruili will originate from the taxed rough jade stones released after the first public auction in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. Industry insiders believe that this development means Chinese jade traders will no longer need to travel abroad to bid on rough jade stones at the Naypyidaw public auctions. As a result, the domestic jewelry and related industries are poised for significant growth, and it will truly enable “jade to return to Yunnan.”

　　The head of Ruili Limin Trading Group, the organizer of this public auction, explained that the second public auction held in Jiegao, Ruili, serves as a valuable complement to the Myanmar-side public auctions, further boosting the utilization of Myanmar’s jade resources and expanding the sales market. According to his revelation, in recent years, the winning bid rate at the raw-jade auctions in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, has remained consistently high, yet the rate of successful bids meeting or exceeding the set quality standards has been steadily declining. “To make the most of these raw materials, both Chinese and Myanmar sides have come up with the idea of holding a second public auction in Jiegao, Ruili.” Thanks to its uniquely advantageous geographical location, Ruili has attracted jewelry merchants from around the world and jade carvers from all over China to start businesses and thrive here. Holding the second public auction for raw jade in Jiegao, Ruili, will bring the “return of jade to Yunnan” one step closer. “The entire sea transport route for Myanmar’s raw materials spans over 4,000 kilometers; it’s virtually impossible to complete each shipment in less than 15 days. Moreover, since Myanmar moved its capital from Yangon to Naypyidaw, all annual raw-jade auctions have been held in the capital, shortening the transport distance from Myanmar to Ruili by more than 400 kilometers—reducing the journey from Naypyidaw to Ruili to just over 700 kilometers.” In recent years, the jade trade in Ruili has largely focused on the buying and selling of raw materials. Once this public auction gets underway, it will have a positive impact on Ruili’s processing and sales sectors. It will undoubtedly bring about a significant boost to Yunnan’s jade industry, both in terms of processing and sales, thereby perfecting the industry’s entire value chain.

Map of the Ruili Limin Jewelry and Jade Public Trading Center in China

China Ruili Jiegao’s First Secondary Public Trading Center for Raw Jadeite Materials

　　A second public auction for raw jadeite stones will be held in Jiegao, Ruili. Raw jadeite stones from Myanmar can freely enter Jiegao to participate in the public auction without having to pay Chinese tariffs. This measure will significantly reduce the cost of raw jadeite stones. After the public auction, any raw jadeite stones entering Ruili or mainland China will be subject to customs clearance procedures and tariff payments. The first public auction in Jiegao, Ruili, China, is scheduled for October 3, 2015. Thereafter, efforts will be made to hold such auctions once every quarter, with an annual target of 3 to 4 auctions, each lasting approximately one month. Once operations become stable, the timing of future public auctions will be determined based on actual conditions, and any necessary adjustments will be negotiated by both parties.

Ruili Border Residents' Jewelry Public Trading Market, China