SHENYANG- A train pulling 45 containers set off from Panjin Port, Northeast China's Liaoning province on Wednesday, joining China-Europe freight trains which have been booming in recent years.

The 16-day journey will see the train leave China through Erenhot in Inner Mongolia autonomous region, to Mongolia and on to Russia before reaching Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

On its maiden trip, the train was loaded with textiles, backpacks, fishing gear and machine devices, such as valves.

The train service will run weekly.

The new service is expected to facilitate trade and opportunities along the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor.

More than 20 Chinese cities have launched container trains to Europe in recent years.