Traveling in both directions with smooth traffic (from the observatory) Goods | Country | Observatory
Recently, with the X8020 China Europe freight train carrying 110 TEUs of exported goods slowly departing from Yiwu West Railway Station to Madrid, Spain, the cumulative number of China Europe freight trains operating in 2023 has reached 10000, exceeding 10000 22 days earlier than last year; Sent 1.083 million TEUs of goods, a year-on-year increase of 27%.
The sound of camel bells in ancient times, but now the wheels are rolling. The China Europe freight train, known as the "steel camel caravan," has been running continuously and smoothly since its opening, and has been favored by more and more countries along the route. Since the first successful operation of China EU trains in 2011, especially the "the Belt and Road" initiative, the scale of China EU trains has become larger and larger. As of the end of June this year, the cumulative number of China Europe freight trains has exceeded 73000, reaching 216 cities in 25 European countries.
Why has the "Steel Camel Team" been smooth all the way?
——High transportation efficiency. For over a decade, China's foreign trade has remained stable and improved in quality, with strong demand for cross-border goods transportation. The China Europe freight train has advantages such as all-weather, large capacity, green and low-carbon, smooth and safe transportation, which can meet the needs of cross-border goods transportation with high quality. Chongqing, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Zhengzhou, Alataw Pass, Khorgos, Almaty, Tashkent, Minsk, Mala, Budapest, Duisburg, Madrid... cities in the Eurasian continent are connected by the China Europe train. To ensure the stable and smooth operation of China Europe freight trains, China continues to upgrade its infrastructure, continuously enhance its transportation capacity, and promote the acceleration of China Europe freight trains. Since the beginning of this year, several cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Anyang in Henan, and Zhongshan in Guangdong have launched their first China Europe freight trains. Both existing routes are also adding new locations, and the network of China Europe freight trains is becoming increasingly dense, with transportation channels continuously expanding.
——There is a strong demand for trade. With the continuous development of new businesses and routes, the cargo carried by the China Europe freight train is becoming increasingly abundant. Over the past 12 years, the categories of goods shipped from China to Europe have expanded from initial products such as mobile phones and computers to include 53 categories and more than 50000 types of goods such as new energy vehicles and furniture and building materials. The categories of goods shipped from Europe to China have also gradually expanded from early wood, automobiles, and spare parts to electromechanical products, food, medical equipment, mechanical equipment, alcohol, and more. In order to meet the diversified trade needs along the route of the China Europe freight train, the service quality of the train has been continuously improved: international parcel freight trains, cross-border e-commerce freight trains, new energy vehicle freight trains, cold chain freight trains... The "freight train+" business chain has gradually taken shape. Organic goji berries from Qinghai, coffee beans from Yunnan, and furniture, appliances, and new energy vehicles from Guangdong have successively entered European households; Handmade carpets from Türkiye, kitchenware from Germany, red wine from France and beef from Kazakhstan are constantly entering the Chinese market... In the process of "two-way travel", China Europe Express not only brings "Made in China" and "China opportunity" to countries along the line, but also brings back "European products" and "European style".
——Open minded and determined. The China Europe Express runs across the Eurasian continent, taking advantage of the "the Belt and Road" initiative to jointly build and share the east wind, and passing through the door of China's continuous initiative to expand opening. The China Europe Express has successfully opened up new routes for land transport between Asia and Europe, greatly promoted exchanges and cooperation between countries and regions along the route, made "trade routes" become "economic belts" for mutually beneficial and win-win development, effectively opened up the "double circulation" blockages, activated new impetus for economic and social development of regions along the "the Belt and Road", and brought positive effects to the global economy. The China Europe freight train not only transports a dazzling array of goods, but also adheres to the concept of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation with countries around the world, and has the determination to share opportunities and develop together with countries along the route.
The galloping China Europe freight train proves to the world that the door to China's opening up will only continue to widen, and peaceful development and win-win cooperation are the right path for humanity. Listen! Accompanied by the sound of sirens, the symphony of cooperation between China and the world in interconnectivity resounds throughout the Eurasian continent.
Jia Pingfan
