Motorcycles produced by Zhejiang Qianjiang Motorcycle. [Photo/Tide News] 

The mutual recognition arrangement for Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programs between China and Uzbekistan took effect on Aug 1, creating new opportunities for exporters based in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, to expand in the Central Asian market.

This also marks China's General Administration of Customs as Uzbekistan's first AEO mutual recognition partner. Under the arrangement, certified companies can benefit from simplified customs procedures, lower inspection rates, and faster clearance.

Among the beneficiaries is Zhejiang Qianjiang Motorcycle in Wenling, a county-level city in Taizhou. The company exports motorcycles, electric vehicles, and all-terrain vehicles to more than 150 countries and regions, with exports having risen more than 20 percent in the first half of this year.

Huang Yangcheng, general manager of the company, said Uzbekistan has become a promising new market. A shipment of motorcycles for a newly secured customer is now being prepared, with demand driven by local preference for durable, high-performance vehicles suited to grasslands, mountains, and desert terrain.

Since obtaining AEO certification in October last year, the company has reduced customs clearance times by more than 30 percent and expects exports to Uzbekistan to grow to several thousand motorcycles over the next year.

China has signed AEO mutual recognition agreements with 34 economies, covering 60 countries and regions, with Taizhou's 47 AEO-certified enterprises expected to benefit from this new arrangement.