In the first five months of the year, trade between North China's Hebei province and the five Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, surged 110 percent year-on-year to a record high of 3.03 billion yuan ($421.9 million), according to a release on the Shijiazhuang Customs' WeChat account.

Exports reached 2.5 billion yuan, up 100 percent, and imports hit 530 million yuan, up 160 percent. So far, Hebei has 1,256 enterprises trading with Central Asian countries. Among them, Yuanda Valve Group, supplying critical valves for energy and water projects, exported 9.63 million yuan worth of products, according to the release.

Great Wall Motor exported vehicles worth 447 million yuan to the region, seeing a 72 percent increase. The automaker credits efficient customs services, like 24-hour clearance and targeted policy support, for enhancing its competitiveness.

The auto industry led the export surge at 580 million yuan, up 140 percent, while edible oil imports topped purchases at 170 million yuan, up 50.7 percent.