Carrying mechanical equipment and cross-border e-commerce products, four trucks with TIR signs departed from the Shaanxi Xixian Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone in Xixian New Area, a new national area built by the cities of Xi'an and Xianyang in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on June 9.

Four trucks depart from Shaanxi Xixian Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone on June 9. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

The trucks are scheduled to leave the country via Alashankou port in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and are set to arrive in Dostyk, the first Kazakh port after the pass.

This marked the opening of the first TIR international cross-border road freight route in Shaanxi.

TIR means Transports Internationaux Routiers, the only global customs transit system for moving goods across international borders. TIR has United Nations' authorization.

China joined the UN TIR Convention in 2016. So far, the convention has 77 participating countries, covering the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The opening of the Xi'an-Kazakhstan TIR international cross-border road freight route marked a significant milestone in promoting the multilateral economic and trade relations between Shaanxi and countries participating in the BRI, particularly Central Asian nations. 

This new route will advance the high-quality connectivity of Shaanxi's opening-up, and facilitate the movement of goods, fostering greater trade exchanges and cooperation.