A cargo truck loaded mainly with stationery supplies has departed from the Chinese city of Zhengzhou (Henan Province) to Ashgabat. The approximately 6,000 km route passes through the Khorgos checkpoint in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, then through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan before reaching Ashgabat. The truck is expected to complete the journey in about nine days, reports Caspian Bulletin.
For the first time in history, freight transport between China and Turkmenistan is operating directly under the international TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) system. The key advantage of this new route lies in significant time and cost savings. The TIR route is expected to reduce expenses by approximately 35% compared to air delivery and cut delivery times in half compared to rail transport.
The TIR system significantly simplifies cargo transportation by establishing uniform rules and procedures for customs transit. The truck is sealed at the departure point and remains sealed until it reaches its destination. Border checks at transit points are minimized, with officials only verifying documents and the integrity of the seal.
The starting point of the route was the Henan Logistics Complex, located in the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Zone. Currently, the complex operates 18 TIR routes connecting China with nine foreign countries, including Russia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and other nations actively developing trade ties with China.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
February 26, 2025