Customs officers issue a clearance document to a driver in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, on June 12. [Photo/Hangzhou Customs]

A truck carrying ice cream departed from a Wenzhou Customs facility on June 12, bound for Tashkent, Uzbekistan, marking the launch of Zhejiang province's first international road transport route to Central Asia under the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) system.

The TIR system — a global customs transit system facilitating international truck transport — enables sealed and door-to-door international freight transport without the need for unloading or inspection at intermediate borders.

Vehicles with valid TIR certificates and intact customs seals are exempt from checks and bond deposits, offering a fast, flexible, and secure alternative to sea or rail freight.

To support the inaugural shipment, Wenzhou Customs provided 24-hour appointment services, a dedicated fast-track clearance window, and streamlined procedures for certificate stamping and customs sealing.

Central Asian countries are key partners in the Belt and Road Initiative and a growing export market for Zhejiang. Last year, Zhejiang's exports to the region reached 38.71 billion yuan ($5.39 billion), up 9.56 percent year-on-year, with private enterprises accounting for 94.7 percent of the total.