On Dec 24, a freight train carrying seeds departs from Jiuquan for Italy via the new western land-sea corridor rail-sea linkage. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A new freight route linking northwestern China with Europe began operations with a train carrying hundreds of tons of agricultural seeds departing from Gansu province, underscoring the region's growing role in global farm supply chains.

The train left the Jiuquan railway logistics hub on Dec 24, transporting 24 containers of vegetables and flower seeds bound for Italy and the Netherlands via China's western land-sea corridor.

Officials said the corridor shortens transport time and reduces costs compared with traditional routes, boosting the competitiveness of Chinese seed exports and supporting agricultural cooperation with countries involved with the Belt and Road Initiative.