China's westernmost border port goes 24/7 to boost Central Asia trade

An immigration officer conducts inspection work at Irkeshtam port in Wuqia County, Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture of Kizilsu in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 1, 2025. The Irkeshtam port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region launched a trial of 24-hour freight clearance operations on Sunday, making it the second land port in the region and the first in southern Xinjiang to adopt such a system. This move is aimed at enhancing trade logistics between China and Central Asia, according to the local immigration inspection station. (Photo by Fei Qiang/Xinhua)

The Irkeshtam port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region launched a trial of 24-hour freight clearance operations on Sunday, making it the second land port in the region and the first in southern Xinjiang to adopt such a system. This move is aimed at enhancing trade logistics between China and Central Asia, according to the local immigration inspection station.

As China's westernmost land port, Irkeshtam serves as a critical gateway to Kyrgyzstan and a hub for Central and West Asia, with rising cross-border activity and robust transport demand.

To support the round-the-clock operations, the Irkeshtam immigration inspection station optimized staffing through shift rotations and implemented "on-arrival inspection" for freight vehicles, which strikes a balance between security and efficiency.

Jiang Zhidong, chairman of the Kashgar-based Xinjiang Jiujiuxi International Trade Co., Ltd., said that the system will significantly boost cargo efficiency, cut logistics costs, further energize port operations and unleash foreign trade potential.

Statistics show that port traffic has surged this year at Irkeshtam, with the station handling over 105,800 trips and 98,500 vehicles by Sunday, up 80 percent and 79 percent year on year, respectively.