Image Credit: Xinhua News Agency
A new TIR assembly center, certified by the International Road Transport Union (IRU), began operations on Wednesday in Urumqi, the capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The center is set to boost cross-border logistics by integrating railway and international road transport.
The launch follows the establishment of Xinjiang’s first TIR assembly center in Kashgar this May, marking a key milestone in the region’s efforts to enhance its logistics capabilities. The TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers or International Road Transports) system is an international customs transit framework designed to reduce time and costs for transport operators and customs authorities when moving goods across borders.
Si Junjiang, president of Xinjiang International Land Port (Group) Co., Ltd., indicated that the new TIR assembly center would provide more diversified and flexible transport options for enterprises, ultimately strengthening the region’s cross-border logistics capacity. The center is expected to play a pivotal role in facilitating smoother trade routes and improving the efficiency of goods transportation.
Lyu Xuenong, deputy head of Wuchang Customs, mentioned plans to continuously optimize the TIR customs clearance procedures. Lyu noted that services such as customs clearance reservations and business consultations would be offered to attract more foreign trade enterprises, further promoting cross-border trade.
The establishment of the TIR assembly center in Urumqi aligns with Xinjiang’s broader strategy to expand its role in international trade. In the first half of this year, the region’s foreign trade volume exceeded 200 billion yuan (about 28 billion U.S. dollars), achieving this milestone two months earlier than last year and reflecting a year-on-year growth of 48.4 percent.
Updated information and statistics on trade growth highlight the region’s accelerating progress in international commerce, underscoring Xinjiang’s strategic importance in China’s trade network.
Credit: Xinhua News Agency