BEIJING: The China-Europe freight train, a hallmark of the Belt and Road Initiative, has become a vital bridge for trade and connectivity between China and Europe, playing an increasingly important role in promoting open cooperation, mutual benefit and economic integration among participating countries.
The X8083 train — loaded with goods such as electronica products, home appliances, auto parts and daily necessities — is making its 100,000th trip to Europe from China.It departed from Tuanjie Village Station in Chongqing on Nov 15 and is en route to Duisburg, Germany. It is scheduled to arrive in the German city on Tuesday. Once it arrives, the freight train will have successfully transported more than 11 million twenty-foot equivalent units of goods, valued at over $420 billion.
Since its launch in 2011, the service has significantly transformed global trade, improving connectivity between China and Europe. It has maintained a strong record of safe, stable and efficient operations, becoming an essential part of the international logistics system. The achievement highlights the rapid growth of the rail corridor connecting China and Europe, facilitating the smooth and reliable movement of goods between continents. “The China-Europe freight train service is an important carrier for open cooperation and mutual benefit among the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. It has created a new, all-weather, high-capacity, green and low-carbon transportation route that has become a popular international public good,” said Li Chao, deputy director of the policy research office of the National Development and Reform Commission. The China-Europe freight train service is less affected by natural environmental factors, offering higher stability. Its cost is only one-fifth of air freight, and its transit time is one-quarter that of sea transport, which makes it highly favored by many clients, he added. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
