China-Europe freight train trips exceed 90,000, promoting high-quality development under the Belt and Road Initiative

XI’AN, May 25 (Xinhua) — A fully loaded train carrying various goods departed Xi’an, capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Saturday morning for Malaszewitz, Poland, marking a milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has exceeded 90,000.

So far, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million TEUs of goods worth US$380 billion, according to China State Railway Co., Ltd. (China Railway).

From 2016 to 2023, the annual number of China-Europe freight train trips increased from 1,702 to more than 17,000. The value of goods transported on the service also increased dramatically from US$8 billion in 2016 to US$56.7 billion in 2023.

The types of goods transported by China-Europe freight trains have expanded from IT products such as laptops and printers at first to more than 50,000 different types, including clothing, shoes, automobiles, spare parts, daily necessities, food, timber, furniture, chemicals and machinery.

She added that China-Europe freight trains have so far reached 223 cities in 25 European countries and more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries, with the service network covering almost the entire Eurasian continent.

“China-Europe freight trains represent a new model of international transportation with advantages such as convenience, speed, safety, stability and green economy. They have become widely popular as an international public product,” said Huang Xin, deputy director of the freight department of China Railway Corporation.

“They have injected new impetus into serving the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and promoting economic and trade exchanges between China and Europe,” Huang added.

Continuous vitality

Inside the smart workshops of Shaanxi Konka Smart Home Appliance Co., Ltd., production lines are bustling with activity as workers help assemble dishwashers and washing machines for its overseas orders. Here, a washing machine can be produced in 20 seconds.

“Many of our factories were previously located in eastern and southern China. We were attracted to set up operations here in western Xi’an because of its strategic location as a major freight train hub between China and Europe, as well as supportive government policies and an abundant talent pool,” said Chen Zhao, general manager of the company.

The company began operations in November 2022, and has now seen 80% of its dishwashers and 20% of its washing machines allocated to global markets, according to Chen.

In late November 2022, a freight train departed from China to Europe carrying the company’s home appliance products for export. By April this year, Shaanxi Konka had exported 135,000 units of home appliances via 30 dedicated freight trains from China to Europe.

“Thanks to China-Europe freight trains, our products now reach various European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Russia, as well as Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan. This mode of transportation not only reduces costs, but also greatly shortens delivery time,” Chen said, adding that ocean freight normally takes 45 days, while China-Europe freight trains speed up the process, completing deliveries in just 15 to 20 days.

“Our overseas customers appreciate the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the China-Europe freight train service, which not only enhances their experience, but also reduces their transportation expenses. It has become their preferred and safe choice,” Chen added.

Since 2023, an increasing number of China-made “green trio” products – lithium-ion batteries, photovoltaic products, and new energy vehicles (NEVs) – have been transported via China-Europe freight trains, reflecting strong market demand.

Cao Ping, from the Xi’an branch of China Railway Special Cargo Services Co., Ltd., a professional transportation company mainly engaged in the transportation of vehicles, bulk cargo and refrigerated goods by railway, had some experience in this matter.

“Since the beginning of this year, this trend has become more evident. All the vehicles exported by our company’s China-Europe freight trains are produced by local companies in Shaanxi, and they are all new energy vehicles, which are very popular overseas,” Cao said, adding that the number of new energy vehicles exported monthly by her company will exceed 1,300 units, with the main destinations being Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The rapid development of China-Europe freight trains has opened a new channel for inland regions of Asia and Europe, promoting economic and trade cooperation between them.

Xi’an-based TERRAcont International Logistics Co., Ltd. was founded two years ago, with just three workers in its early days. Over the past two years, the company’s workforce has grown to more than 20, said Zulbaskanova Norsolo, the company’s CEO, who is from Kazakhstan.

“Our containers leave via China-Europe freight trains every month, some from Xi’an and others from Chongqing and Chengdu,” Norsolo said.

“I have witnessed the rapid development of China-Europe freight trains and received a lot of support from the Chinese government over the years. This has greatly enhanced China’s relations with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, leading to enhanced trade relations between them,” she added.

“The spillover effects of China-Europe freight trains are becoming increasingly prominent, facilitating better integration of relevant countries and regions into the open world economy, and greatly enhancing the well-being of the people of the Belt and Road Initiative countries,” Huang said.