BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 23. The Middle
Corridor promotes the diversification of transport links between
China and Europe, IRU Secretary General Habib Turki said during the
Conference on Logistics Cooperation between China and Central and
Eastern European Countries.


According to the International Road Transport Union (IRU),
Secretary General Habib Turki stated that harmonizing procedures
and closer cooperation between the public and private sectors could
contribute to further growth in trade between China and Central and
Eastern European countries.


“It is logistics, not any single technology, that transforms
industrial potential into overall prosperity. Our modern transport
corridors between China and the countries of Central and Eastern
Europe have been developed over the past decade. Today, trucks
cross multiple borders, transporting valuable goods in both
directions. Each truck enhances the flexibility and resilience of
the supply chains that road transport provides, while also
contributing to trade, economic development, and increased
prosperity,” H. Turki stated.


The report notes that the IRU has been supporting the
development of road freight transport between China and Europe for
more than three decades: “Today, more than 3,700 vehicles
registered in the TIR system operate on more than 120 routes from
China to countries in Central and Eastern Europe, crossing more
than 60 borders through Central Asia, the Caucasus, and
Türkiye.”


The IRU reports that earlier this year, the scope of the TIR
system in China was expanded to include e-commerce and goods under
customs control, opening the system to entirely new types of
trade.


In addition, it is emphasized that the benefits are already
becoming increasingly apparent. For example, transporting goods
from China to Azerbaijan via the TIR system using the customs
transit procedure can now take 15 days, which is half the time
required for a similar shipment by sea.


According to the IRU, further growth will depend on continued
efforts to streamline procedures: TIR “green corridors” at key
Chinese border crossings already provide TIR trucks with priority
passage, and 11 facilitation centers across the country offer
logistics operators “one-stop shop” services.


“This is precisely what public-private sector cooperation
achieves: it transforms standards and regulations on paper into a
functioning corridor that facilitates the movement of goods and the
growth of trade,” Habib Turki said.







According to the IRU, the potential is significant: “Trade
volume between China and the countries of Central and Eastern
Europe reached $161.5 billion in 2025, marking its tenth
consecutive year of growth, after which it rose by another 11% in
the first half of 2026.”


In addition, Habib Turki highlighted the role of road transport
in enhancing the resilience of supply chains: “Trucks can be
quickly rerouted if geopolitical upheavals, natural disasters, or
other crises disrupt existing transport corridors.”


Furthermore, it is noted that the Middle Corridor is a prime
example of how diversifying transport routes can provide
alternative connections between China and Europe.


According to the IRU, the TIR system further strengthens the
corridor by allowing goods to be transported through multiple
countries under a single international customs guarantee, reducing
border delays and administrative procedures.


"Cross-border transportation, by its very nature, involves a
complex interplay of numerous rules, systems, and operating
procedures. The purpose of transport corridors is to harmonize
these rules and processes.


On behalf of its members and the entire road transport community
in China and every country in Central and Eastern Europe, the IRU
is committed to ensuring that goods and supply chains continue to
move quickly, efficiently, and safely. “The road ahead is long. But
every great journey, no matter how long it may be, begins with
those who are ready to travel it together,” H. Turki concluded.