Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) — Trucks loaded with goods under the TIR (International Road Freight) system are lined up at the China-SCO Regional Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone (hereinafter referred to as the "China-SCO Demonstration Zone") in the east Chinese coastal city of Qingdao, ready to depart.
Truck driver Zhang Huaxu has been transporting goods on the China-Russia land route for many years. He believes that the TIR not only increases the speed of transport but also increases drivers' income.
"Even under the best-case scenario, transporting cargo by road from China to Russia used to take at least 15 days, and at a slower pace, it would take a month to reach its destination. Now it takes seven to eight days roundtrip, and drivers' incomes have increased by 30 percent," he told a reporter for the local newspaper Bandao Dushibao.
In the first three quarters of 2025, 342 trucks were shipped abroad under the TIR system from the China-SCO Demonstration Zone, a 97 percent increase year-on-year, according to data from Qingdao Customs.
"Previously, shipping goods from Qingdao to Russia required transshipment at the port. Each trip took about 20 days. Losses were high, and customers had to wait impatiently," said Zhang Shaoyong, a person in charge of Qingdao Yongpeng Huitong Supply Chain Co., Ltd.
Now all this has changed. Zhang Shaoyong has prepared a shipment of beverages worth approximately 300,000 yuan, which will be delivered directly to SCO member countries via the TIR channel, with the transit time expected to be just eight days. Moreover, over the past two years, his company's volume has grown by 30-50 percent annually, making Zhang a direct beneficiary of the TIR system.
TIR is an international system that simplifies the transport of goods between countries. Under this system, cargo is sealed at the starting point of the route and inspected only upon arrival at the destination. At intermediate border crossings, border crossing officers merely verify the TIR carnet data and the customs stamp on the vehicle. This reduces transit time and mitigates potential risks associated with administrative customs procedures and cargo damage. China joined the TIR Convention in July 2016.
The China-SCO Demonstration Zone has currently opened a number of international road freight transport routes, including China-Russia, China-Kazakhstan, China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan, and China-Belarus. These routes transport 40 types of goods, including food products, as well as mechanical and electrical equipment.
Due to the rapid growth of business, Zhang Huaxu's company has purchased dozens more new trucks and is ready to put them into operation. "I hope to switch to a new truck, drive faster and more reliably, earn more money, and help my family live a better life," he said.
With its unique advantages, the TIR system is becoming an important link between China and other SCO countries, as well as the wider international market. -0-
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