Advancing Belt and Road prospects, China opened 6 customs checkpoints to start TIR operations in 2018, and then expanded TIR to all its 1,200+ customs checkpoints since June 2019. The rapid development shows the country’s commitment to opening up and promoting win-win cooperation.
To move further with trade facilitation, IRU is in discussions with China’s neighbouring countries, encouraging them to also accede to TIR. Elsewhere, China is actively studying other UN Conventions including CMR (Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road) and ADR (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road).
IRU in Asia & the Pacific
In the densely populated region of China, Asia Pacific and Bhutan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal (BBIN countries), IRU’s activity focuses on improving trade and mobility for millions of communities. China’s ratification and implementation of TIR is an exciting step that will closely link this country with the Eurasian landmass and help create the modern-day ‘Silk Road’
From China to Lao PDR, countries in this region are at different stages of development when it comes to road transport infrastructure and regulation. Driving across the Asia Pacific, vehicles meet standards in one country while failing them in others. Other challenges in the region include bureaucratic ‘grey areas’ such as corruption activity at border crossing points and en route, and a lack of sufficient multi-lateral or bi-lateral agreements within the region.
Advancing Belt and Road prospects, China opened 6 customs checkpoints to start TIR operations in 2018, and then expanded TIR to all its 1,200+ customs checkpoints since June 2019. The rapid development shows the country’s commitment to opening up and promoting win-win cooperation.
To move further with trade facilitation, IRU is in discussions with China’s neighbouring countries, encouraging them to also accede to TIR. Elsewhere, China is actively studying other UN Conventions including CMR (Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road) and ADR (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road).
TIR connects East and West
‘Belt and Road’ is the name given to the modern-day Silk Road, the ancient trade route that previously linked China with its Eurasian counterparts, and which, thanks to better connections by road, train and sea, is opening up the trade bridge between China and its neighbours, and countries farther away. China’s accession to TIR has been the missing piece of the jigsaw, as most of the other countries along this new trade route are already TIR contracting parties. Since China implemented TIR, transports have been active along key Belt and Road corridors, demonstrating the positive impact of connectivity.
In 2015, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal (BBIN) signed the Motor Vehicle Agreement to facilitate passenger and goods transport in the region. To this end, UN road transport conventions such as the TIR Convention and other global standards and best practices could help this region to implement the BBIN Agreement effectively. With India now acceded to the TIR Convention, IRU has expressed its readiness to support this region to promote road transport and transit. The intermodal aspect of the TIR system, encompassing rail, sea and air could also play an important role to connect this region to other parts of the world. Under the intermodal aspect of the TIR Convention, all of these countries and corridors connect to each other.
IRU regional office
Chief Representative: Yan Zhou
1011, 10/F
Building 3
No. 38 Dongsanhuan North Road
Chaoyang District
Beijing
China
Tel: +86-10-5606 3906
Regional news
29 Oct 2020 Ulaanbaatar
TIR carnet use in Mongolia triples
15 Oct 2020 Istanbul
New studies show how to optimise trade flows with TIR
16 Jul 2020 Online
Asian Development Bank and IRU join forces on key trade link
25 Mar 2020 Beijing
COVID-19: China’s response to keep road transport moving
17 Mar 2020 Mumbai
TIR helps open up India-Iran-Afghanistan intermodal trade
Innovation
New Eurasian Land Transport Initiative (NELTI)
With China’s Belt and Road initiatives moving ahead, IRU’s longstanding, prescient work to reopen ancient Silk Road trade routes linking Asia to Europe across Eurasia has gathered ground and has set the foundations in place for the recent developments now transforming trade prospects for the region.
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China-Russia trade corridor pilot caravan
See the latest news on China-Russia trade corridor pilot caravan launched ahead of TIR implementation
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Reopening the Silk Road
The Silk Road is a key artery connecting the east and the west, by road. IRU is working to open up this important ancient trade route.
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IRU members in Asia & the Pacific
Singapore
AA Singapore
North Lakes
ATIA
Beijing
CCOIC
Shanghai
CEVA Logistics
Beijing
CRTA
New Delhi
FICCI
Karachi
FOAP
Shenzhen
Huawei
Tokyo
JTA
Ulaanbaatar
NARTAM
Kathmandu
NASA
Karachi
PNC-ICC
Shanghai
Railink
Wellington
RTFNZ
IRU Partners in Asia & Pacific