BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 25. China and
Central Asian countries agreed on a draft cooperation procedure for
operational data exchange between customs services during first
meeting of the relevant Working Group held in Urumchi on September
15-17.
This was reflected in a publication issued by the Turkmenistan's
State Customs Service. The signing is planned at the China-Central
Asia Summit in 2027.
The meeting brought together customs officials from China,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to discuss
advanced risk management technologies, artificial intelligence
algorithms and data analytics.
The draft cooperation procedure is intended to facilitate the
exchange of customs information and support faster cargo clearance,
more accurate inspections and greater security and transparency in
regional trade, the report says.
According to the publication, Kazakhstan will host the next
meeting of the Working Group.
Meanwhile, China and the five Central Asian countries -
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan -
have been expanding customs cooperation as part of their broader
regional trade and connectivity agenda. At the second China-Central
Asia Summit in Astana in June 2025, the countries agreed to deepen
cooperation on “Smart Customs, Smart Borders and Smart
Connectivity,” including trade facilitation, single-window systems
and risk management.
The initiative is part of wider efforts to simplify cross-border
trade and improve transport connectivity between China and Central
Asia. The 2025 summit also endorsed measures to expand transport
corridors, strengthen logistics links and establish a cooperation
platform on smooth trade. Against this background, customs
digitalization has become an important component of efforts to
facilitate growing trade flows between China and the region.
