Do I need to clear the custom as a I-I transit pax and the time needed at Shanghai Pudong Airport?

I heard that for I-I transfer ( Say, SYD-PVG-LHR ), unlike international practice, it is still required in China that the passenger , after disembarking, go through the passport control, reclaim the baggage, re-check in ( to obtain B/P for the next leg ) , go through the immigration and security again. In short, even as a I-I transit passenger, it is treated like a arrival and departing passenger. Is it true ?
Also, how bad ( or good ) do the staff in PVG speak English ?