URUMQI, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- On September 3, 2024, an opening ceremony for temporary customs clearance was held at the Biedieli Port in Wushi County, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Following the Irkeshtam Port and the Torugart Port, the Biedieli Port has become the third land port opened between China and Kyrgyzstan.

Photo taken on September 3, 2024 shows the first Chinese truck leaves China through the Biedieli Port and heads to Kyrgyzstan. (Photo by Xinhua/ Jin Bowen)

According to the Port Management Office of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the temporary opening of the Biedieli Port will last until September 30. The port is expected to complete its supporting infrastructure construction by 2027 and will be open all year round after passing the national inspection and acceptance.

At the opening ceremony for temporary customs clearance, Ma Xingrui, the Secretary of the CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee, delivered a video speech expressing that the opening of the Biedieli Port is a vivid practice of China and Kyrgyzstan jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, which is of great significance in promoting the development of China-Kyrgyzstan relations and consolidating regional cooperation. Taking the opportunity of the customs clearance at the Biedieli Port and the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway project, China will continue to deepen pragmatic cooperation with Kyrgyzstan in various fields such as economic and trade investment, interconnectivity, agriculture, energy, education, healthcare, and green development, actively contributing local strength to the building of a China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future.

Photo taken on September 3, 2024 shows officers from the Xinjiang Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection General Station handle entry formalities for an incoming traveler. (Photo by Xinhua/ Jin Bowen)

In the video speech given by Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov, the opening of the Biedieli Port will effectively unleash the potential in the fields of transportation, logistics, and tourism between Kyrgyzstan and China, promoting mutual prosperity and development. The Kyrgyz side will continue to advance related project construction, further consolidate and promote Kyrgyz-China friendly cooperation, and jointly build the Biedieli Port into a high-level international trade cooperation channel.

Photo taken on September 3, 2024 shows a customs officer from the Aksu Customs carries out health quarantine and customs clearance procedures for an incoming traveler. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency/ Jin Bowen)

The Biedieli Port is located in the area of the 6th boundary marker on the China-Kyrgyzstan border, with an altitude of 2,754 meters in the gateway area. It is 140 kilometers away from Wushi County in Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang, and 230 kilometers from Karakol City in the Issyk-Kul Oblast of Kyrgyzstan. On March 29, 2024, the State Council of the People's Republic of China approved the opening of the Xinjiang Biedieli Highway Port to foreign trade. 

Photo taken on September 3, 2024 shows the first Kyrgyz vehicles entering China through the Biedieli Port. (Photo by Xinhua/ Jin Bowen)

The opening of the Biedieli Port will help improve the layout of land ports in China's Xinjiang, filling the gap of no open ports in Aksu Prefecture, and will further facilitate economic and trade exchanges as well as people-to-people exchanges between China and Kyrgyzstan.