At 37, Mohammad Falah Nasser’s office in Yiwu – the Chinese mainland’s bustling small commodities hub – buzzes with orders destined for markets from Amman to Algiers. What began as a college graduate’s gamble using his $15,000 savings has evolved into a cross-border empire connecting 13 countries and regions via the China-Europe Railway Express.
‘Yiwu is where the world shops,’ says Nasser, gesturing to crates of LED lights bound for Morocco. Since its 2014 launch, the freight network has transformed this Zhejiang Province city into a global export powerhouse, slashing delivery times to Europe by 60% compared to sea routes. Last year alone, over 2,300 trains departed Yiwu, carrying everything from solar-powered gadgets to sustainable textiles.
The railway’s reach – spanning 180 cities across 23 countries – mirrors China’s growing trade ties with emerging markets. For young entrepreneurs like Nasser, it’s become a lifeline: ‘When suppliers ask why I chose China, I show them our logistics map. The world literally runs through here.’
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
