The first two TIR vehicles fully loaded with clothes recently departed from the comprehensive service base for TIR silk road e-commerce in the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area in Qingdao (SCODA) for Georgia. This is the 7th TIR route opened by Qingdao, and Shandong Province’s first TIR route to Georgia.

Situated at the intersection of Europe and Asia, Georgia is an important transit hub for China to transport goods westward to Europe and an important partner for the Belt and Road Initiative. The first two TIR vehicles will exit China through the Khorgos port, pass through Kazakhstan to reach the east shore of Caspian Sea, cross over Caspian Sea by ferry, and finally arrive in Georgia via Azerbaijan. It is estimated that the whole voyage will take 18 days.  (Liu Lanxing)