Xi’an, China – A significant milestone in global trade was achieved on Friday as the new trans-Caspian international transport corridor for the China-Europe Railway Express was officially launched in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. This ambitious corridor marks a major enhancement in the logistics network between China and Europe.
The inaugural China-Europe freight train set off from Xi’an International Port Station, traversing through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic before arriving in Mannheim, Germany. The journey spans an impressive 11,300 kilometers, highlighting the corridor's extensive reach.
The launch ceremony was a collaborative effort, organized by 15 members of the International Association of Trans-Caspian International Transport Routes. Yuan Xiaojun, general manager of Xi’an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation, emphasized the transformation in the transport model. “Previously, trans-Caspian transport relied heavily on outsourcing, with various rail and logistics companies operating independently,” he explained. “Today, member units have united their efforts and resources in Xi’an to collaboratively serve the Chinese market.”
Yuan highlighted that this unified approach not only improves the efficiency, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness of transporting goods from China to Europe but also strengthens the integration of trans-Caspian services with China’s export market. Since the corridor's inception in April 2022, operations have surged, increasing from one train every seven days to up to seven trains weekly. To date, 150 trains have been dispatched, transporting a total of 137,000 tonnes of goods.
This rapid growth underscores the corridor's vital role in facilitating international trade and enhancing economic ties between China and Europe.
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New trans-Caspian corridor of China-Europe Railway launched in Xi'an
cgtn.com
