China becomes 70th country ratifying TIR

China became the 70th country to ratify the United Nation’s Transports Internationaux Routiers Convention, the global standard for international freight customs transit, on Tuesday. According to the International Road Transport Union, the managing institution of TIR, China’s ratification is an important step in improving land and multimodal transport between Asia and Europe, and a sign of the country’s steady integration into global transport and trade norms. The TIR system will underpin China’s Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to boost trade, development and cooperation along ancient Silk Road routes.