The global TIR transit system now connects China’s major manufacturing hub of Shenzhen to Kazakhstan’s largest city.
Sinotrans, China’s largest integrated logistics company, has activated a new 5,200-kilometre-long TIR route connecting China’s Shenzhen to Kazakhstan’s Almaty with an end-to-end operation.
A Sinotrans truck, loaded with electronic products, has exited China via the Dulata-Kolzhat border crossing and is continuing its journey to Almaty.
By opening TIR in the inland city Shenzhen, border transit procedures have been further simplified, cutting transit time and reducing costs.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony in Shenzhen, IRU Director of TIR and Transit Tatiana Rey-Bellet said, “The opening of this new route provides a direct trade lane connecting Shenzhen, China’s key manufacturing and international trade hub, with the growing Central Asian market.
“As TIR continues to expand in China, I am pleased to see that an increasing number of Chinese transport companies are benefitting from the facilitation and security provided by TIR.
“Their pioneering endeavours will greatly enhance belt and road connectivity and supply chain resilience to help with post-covid economic recovery.”
This new route follows the activation of another China-Kazakhstan TIR route between Xi’an (China) and Dostyk (Kazakhstan) last month. The first transport via that route had also been completed by Sinotrans, with support from IRU, local governments and customs.
With these milestones, Sinotrans is planning to expand its TIR road transport business by exploring other new corridors.
Tatiana Rey-Bellet also held talks with representatives of Sinotrans and Shenzhen’s customs authorities, exploring next steps to jointly spur TIR growth in China and facilitate the rapid growth of trade flows between China and Central Asia.
Bilateral trade between China and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan reached a historic high in 2022, hitting USD 70.2 billion in total, an increase of about 40% year-on-year.
With heads of state agreeing to deepen transport and trade cooperation at the China-Central Asia Summit last month, TIR will be instrumental in elevating regional connectivity and economic growth to new levels.
