For Zhu Junwei, a logistics worker at the Horgos road port in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on the border between China and Kazakhstan, the sight of Chinese-made cars waiting to be shipped to the Central Asian market has become commonplace.

"The traffic police are often on duty near the customs clearance compound to prevent traffic jams. This is how busy the Horgos land port is," said Zhu from Horgos Silurongteng Logistics, while handing in paperwork to export a batch of electric cars in late April.

The vehicles' customs clearance can be completed simply by scanning a QR code.

"The whole procedure for exporting goods via Horgos is as smooth as butter. It has become even easier since Horgos became a part of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone in 2023 as there's been even more streamlining of customs and security inspection procedures," Zhu said.

On Aug 14, 2023, Horgos, in Xinjiang's Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture, became the first road port in the region to trial 24/7 passage for traded goods. It means that customs and border inspection teams have to work more closely and be better coordinated around the clock to cut the inspection time.

Besides daily necessities, fruit and vegetables and electronics, new energy vehicles have become the latest Chinese products that have gained popularity in Central Asian markets, said Zhu, who added he had to return to the port in the evening to export another batch of EVs.

"We are quite busy. The customs and border inspection officers are busy. Everyone is busy at Horgos," he said.