Kyrgyzstan Launches Electronic Queuing System for Trucks at China Border

Kyrgyzstan’s State Customs Service has launched a pilot electronic queuing system for trucks at the Torugart border crossing in the Naryn region on the Kyrgyz-Chinese border. According to the Customs Service, the system is designed to streamline truck flows and reduce congestion that previously formed near the crossing. Queues of heavy vehicles sometimes stretched for up to 25 kilometres, placing significant strain on road infrastructure and negatively affecting the environment around Lake Chatyr-Kul. The new system allows transport operators to pre-register trucks for border clearance. Vehicles are directed to the checkpoint from a designated waiting area in accordance with their place in the electronic queue. In addition, a new waiting facility for drivers and representatives of transport companies has been opened at the crossing. Torugart is currently undergoing modernisation. Planned upgrades include the expansion of checkpoint territory, installation of modern non-intrusive inspection equipment, increased throughput capacity, and the construction of additional parking areas. The initiative is aimed at improving the efficiency of the crossing amid growing trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and China. According to Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Liu Jiangping, bilateral trade reached a record $27.2 billion in 2025, representing a 20% increase compared with the previous year. Torugart is one of Kyrgyzstan’s two fully operational road crossings with China, alongside the Irkeshtam checkpoint in the Osh region. In September 2024, Kyrgyzstan opened a third road crossing with China. The Bedel checkpoint, initially launched under a simplified regime, is located in a remote mountainous area roughly equidistant from Karakol in Kyrgyzstan and Aksu in China. Its full-scale development with infrastructure meeting international standards is expected to be completed by 2027.