China launches 'TIR Plus' business models to upgrade cross-border logistics

China

China launches 'TIR Plus' business models to upgrade cross-border logistics

2026-01-16 16:32 Last Updated At：19:57

China on Thursday launched two new "TIR Plus" models across multiple regions, marking a significant upgrade in cross-border logistics system and creating more efficient international transport channels for foreign trade companies.

The rollout follows new regulations issued by China's General Administration of Customs and includes two innovative models — "TIR plus bonded" and "TIR plus cross-border e-commerce."

The TIR system, which stands for Transports Internationaux Routiers or International Road Transport, is a global customs transit system based on a United Nations convention. Under this system, vehicles carrying a TIR carnet can pass through transit countries without repeated customs inspections after completing formalities at the point of origin, ensuring highly efficient cross-border transit.

The newly launched models integrate international road transport with bonded policies and e-commerce supervision modes for the first time.

In central China's Henan Province, the first batch of "TIR plus bonded" cargo was dispatched from the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, heading directly for Russia.

"This model combines the advantages of comprehensive bonded zones with TIR international road transport, which helps enterprises develop transport-trade integration. It represents a breakthrough in innovating port models and enhancing the capacity of logistics hubs," said Ji Dakai, a senior specialist at the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone Port Administration.

The expansion of these services was also evident in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. At the TIR logistics hub in Kashgar, two transport vehicles loaded with daily necessities departed for Pakistan and Uzbekistan, with expected travel times of two and five days, respectively.

"We provide appointment-based customs clearance and 'one-on-one' guidance to break down collaboration barriers. This has led to improved clearance efficiency and lower logistics costs," said Yang Qiang, deputy director of the inspection department at Kashgar Customs.

Meanwhile, Wenzhou City in east China's Zhejiang Province has also dispatched two batches of goods under the new models.

"We can apply for tax refunds as soon as the goods enter the zone, which is about 10 days earlier than before. In the past, our exports to Europe mainly relied on sea freight, which took much longer. The TIR model can reduce our transport time by about 65 percent," said Xu Jianyong, business manager of Wenzhou Juxin International Multimodal Transport Port Co., Ltd.

China joined the TIR Convention in July 2016 to simplify and streamline administrative formalities of international road transport.

China ramps up power grid investment in January-March to boost growth

China's two major power grid operators -- the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) and China Southern Power Grid (CSG) -- reported a surge in investment in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring efforts to strengthen infrastructure construction and support high-quality socioeconomic development in China.

The State Grid said it completed fixed-asset investment worth 129 billion yuan (about 18.77 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three months of this year, up 37 percent the corresponding period of the previous year. The spending has driven more than 250 billion yuan (36 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across the wider industrial chain.

Key projects such as the Panxi ultra-high-voltage (UHV) alternating current (AC) line and the Anhui-Hubei back-to-back direct current (DC) project have seen ground broken for their construction, while several west-to-east power transmission projects have been upgraded.

Investment in connecting renewable energy generation to the grid was reported to have exceeded 10 billion yuan (1.45 billion U.S. dollars) from January to March, a year-on-year rise of more than 50 percent.

The CSG also reported robust growth in investment in the three-month period, with fixed-asset investment reaching 38.45 billion yuan (5.58 billion U.S. dollars), up about 50 percent from a year earlier.

Among its achievements, the company completed and commissioned 80 key projects, including the 220 kV cross-sea power grid interconnection project, which was officially put into operation on March 20. The project ended years of grid isolation on the Weizhou Island in south China by linking it to the main power system of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The construction of 17 other major energy projects, including one linking the power grid of the Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China with that of Guangdong Province in south China, is advancing rapidly. These projects are expected to bolster regional industries, the maritime economy, digital collaboration and the transition to green energy.

"By accelerating major project construction, investment during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) is expected to approach 1 trillion yuan (145 billion U.S. dollars), driving a further 2 trillion yuan (290 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across upstream and downstream industries," said Dong Yanle, deputy general manager of the Engineering Construction Department under the China Southern Power Grid.