The EAEU and China have begun trialling freight transport using electronic waybills

Russia and China have launched a pilot freight transport scheme using electronic waybills and paperless technologies. The first shipments of coal, fertilisers and consumer goods, accompanied by digital documents, are already passing through the ‘Grodekovo–Suifenhe’ border crossing.

This was announced by Andrei Slepnev, Minister for Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission, following a meeting of the Joint Commission on the Implementation of the Agreement on Trade and Economic Co-operation between the EAEU and China.

According to Slepnev, the parties also expect to prepare a package of documents for signing in the near future, which will enable similar shipments to be launched with Kazakhstan.

Furthermore, the EAEU and China have made progress in testing the exchange of electronic veterinary certificates. Going forward, the parties intend to move towards their full-scale use and accelerate the integration of electronic systems in the field of plant quarantine.

Separately, the meeting participants discussed the development of transit transport from EAEU countries via China to the states of South-East Asia. The parties agreed to hold further consultations to explore this area.