JD.com and Shopify are teaming up to connect independent brands in the US to consumers in China. The Chinese e-commerce giant will open an ‘accelerated’ channel for brands on Shopify to list their products through its cross-border e-commerce marketplace JD Worldwide.

This streamlined channel will allow Shopify brands to start selling in China faster. JD.com promises a speedy process in 3 to 4 weeks, which is much shorter than the usual 1 year period required for foreign brands to start selling in the country

JD.com currently has over half a billion active customers in China who use the platform to find authentic, high-quality products. Its supply chain network provides logistics and fulfillment service from the US to China, with cargo flights and a network of warehouses in the US and China.

Also read: JD.com eyes US$5 billion IPO for logistics unit

The two companies will also collaborate to simplify access and compliance for Chinese brands and merchants that are looking to enter new markets in the west. JD said it will support quality Chinese brands to set up their DTC channels through Shopify, and enable Shopify merchants to access JD’s supplier network through the JD Sourcing platform.

“The future of commerce is commerce everywhere—and that starts by removing barriers to entry to one of the most important e-commerce markets in the world,” said Aaron Brown, vice president of Shopify.

The announcement is part of a larger strategic partnership between Shopify and JD.com that aims to help solve cross-border commerce challenges across product sourcing, selling, and logistics for merchants in the US and China. The JD.com channel will be available starting  January 18.