BEIJING - The total cargo value of China-Europe freight trains rose 106 percent year on year to hit $33 billion in 2018, an official said Monday.

China-Europe freight trains have made 14,691 trips since March 2011 when they started, said Xiao Weiming with the Office of the Leading Group for Promoting the Belt and Road Initiative.

The cross-border rail network has connected 62 Chinese cities with 51 European cities in 15 countries.

China-Europe freight trains have developed since they branded under the "China Railway Express" banner in 2016.

The China-Europe rail service is considered a significant part of the Belt and Road Initiative, and is expected to boost trade between China and Europe, China's largest trading partner.