The China Railway Express (CR Express) has marked a significant milestone this year, expanding its China-Europe freight service by 10% since January. This growth underscores the vital role the CR Express plays in fostering sustainable and collaborative trade across the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries.
From January to April, a total of 6,184 China-Europe freight trains were operated, delivering 675,000 TEUs of goods. This represents a year-on-year increase of 10% in train operations and 11% in cargo volume, highlighting a robust demand for land-based trade routes.
After a decade of groundbreaking efforts, the iconic BRI project now spans 223 cities in 25 European countries, having completed over 89,000 trips by the end of April. Recently, five China-Europe freight trains with full timetables began steady weekly services between Xi'an and Duisburg in Germany, and Chengdu and Lodz in Poland. Additionally, 16 overseas return points have been added, enhancing the flexibility and reach of the freight options to meet diverse global customer needs.
Praised by the international community, the China-Europe transportation service not only revitalizes the prosperity of the ancient Silk Road but also enhances people's livelihoods. It serves as a vital public good, promoting win-win cooperation and economic vitality across Eurasia and beyond.
Mao Ning, a spokesperson with China's Foreign Ministry, stated, \"The CR Express has continuously added new lines and expanded its capacity during the past decade, providing the Eurasian continent with fresh corridors of land transport and new bridges for economic and trade cooperation.\"
The service's cost-effectiveness has also been highlighted by Foreign Policy magazine, which in January referred to the BRI as \"a blueprint for what every nation needs in an age of uncertainty and disruption amidst the Red Sea crisis.\" The magazine emphasized that \"the solution to supply shocks is more supply chains. More belts, more roads.\"
Over the past 10 years, the China-Europe Railway Express has streamlined customs clearance and inspection processes, improved the business environment at ports of entry, and standardized rules and regulations for cross-border transportation. These enhancements have significantly reduced transit times and operational costs, making the CR Express a preferred choice for international freight.
As the world embraces the age of artificial intelligence (AI), the CR Express is poised to solidify its position as a key link in the global trade network. AI technologies can optimize logistics operations, improve route planning, and enhance predictive maintenance for trains. By integrating AI, the freight train service can achieve greater efficiency, reliability, and sustainability, ultimately benefiting all nations involved.
The continued expansion and innovation of the CR Express exemplify the dynamic nature of global trade and the ongoing commitment to building resilient and interconnected economies across continents.
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China-Europe freight train service expands 10% since January
cgtn.com
