1,378 trains in 10 years: China-Europe (Xiamen) Freight Train thrives
A China-Europe freight train travels from Xiamen to Moscow, Russia. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]
Accompanied by a prolonged whistle, a China-Europe (Xiamen) freight train loaded with goods such as shoes and clothing departed slowly from the Xiamen International Logistics Hub, marking the 10th anniversary of the launch of China's first China-Europe freight train service originating from a pilot free trade zone.
According to statistics from Xiamen Customs, over the past decade, the China-Europe (Xiamen) Freight Train has made a total of 1,378 trips, carrying 120,000 TEUs of cargo with a total value exceeding 35.5 billion yuan ($4.94 billion). More than a thousand categories of goods have been transported, including electronics, machinery, daily necessities, and biomedicine.
Since its inaugural journey on Aug 16, 2015, the China-Europe (Xiamen) Freight Train has expanded from a single route to seven regular lines, now connecting over 30 cities in 13 Belt and Road countries.
The rail service is 10 to 20 days faster than international sea freight, providing a more efficient and smooth logistics solution for exporting "Made in China" products — such as electronic goods and photovoltaic modules — to the European continent.
At the same time, goods like timber from Russia and polyethylene from Belgium travel along the rails into China, achieving two-way trade growth and mutual economic benefits.
Xiamen Customs inspects the goods. [Photo/Xiamen Customs]
Why Xiamen
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Xiamen is one of the most economically competitive cities in China and was one of the first Special Economic Zones on the Chinese mainland. As a vice-provincial city independently listed on the State development plan, it has provincial-level authority in economic administration and local legislative power. In 2010, the Xiamen SEZ was expanded to cover the entire municipality. Today, Xiamen is a modern and international port city.