The launch of the ASEAN Express from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality to Malaszewicze, Poland, marks a pivotal moment in accelerating Asia-Europe trade. Departing from Chongqing's Tuanjiecun Station early Friday morning, the train embarks on a journey carrying automotive electronic components and other vital goods, with an expected arrival in roughly two weeks.
This inaugural ASEAN Express journey began in Hanoi, Vietnam, on October 15, before transferring to Chongqing for reconfiguration. Connecting the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor with the China-Europe freight train service, the route promises a seamless link between two major international trade corridors. The entire trip, encompassing over 25 days from Vietnam to Poland, offers a significant reduction in transit time by five to ten days compared to traditional Asia-Europe transport routes.
Jointly operated by Yuxinou (Chongqing) Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. and New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co., Ltd., the ASEAN Express enhances transit speed and streamlines services to ensure faster customs clearance, according to Liu Taiping, Yuxinou's general manager.
Historically, ASEAN-to-Europe freight relied heavily on maritime shipping, which often required two separate transport routes and platforms, leading to complex procedures and longer transit times. He Daoguo, general manager of Chongqing Meilian International Warehouse & Transport, highlighted that the new collaboration reduces logistics costs by approximately 15 percent, benefiting global clients in sectors such as automotive parts, electronics, and chemicals.
Ding Yao, head of the Chongqing Academy of Economics Research, emphasized that the ASEAN Express effectively connects key trade routes, positioning Chongqing as a vital inland hub for the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This connection is set to facilitate trade and cultural exchanges between BRI countries, stabilize global industrial and supply chains, and drive high-quality cooperation within the initiative.
The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, with its hub in Chongqing, links global ports via railways, sea routes, and highways through southern and southwestern China, including Guangxi and Yunnan. As of August 2024, this corridor had expanded to 523 ports across 124 countries and regions. The China-Europe freight train service, a logistics link between Asia and Europe launched in 2011, has experienced rapid growth, particularly since the implementation of the BRI.
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Asia-Europe trade on track as ASEAN Express accelerates from SW China
cgtn.com
