The China Road Transport Association (CRTA) has conducted a training session for potential TIR holders in China, with presentations on specific services and tools as well as practical scenarios for the implementation of the system, with a view to it becoming operational in the coming year.

Taking place in Urumqi, the TIR training programme gathered together 70 participants and is part of the drive to reinforce local capacity to implement TIR. Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region that shares borders with eight countries, including Afghanistan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia and Tajikistan.

Experts and specialists from the Transport Department and the Road Transport Management Bureau of Xinjiang were present at the workshop, alongside China Customs, IRU, and several leading China international transport operators, who were invited to give presentations. The aim was to enable transport operators and potential users to gain a full understanding of their roles in forging ahead with TIR.