BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) – The number of operational China-Europe freight trains had surged six percent year-on-year to 1,132 by the end of February of the year, while over 90 percent of the freight train services have resumed regular operation amid the epidemic, according to the National Development Reform Commission (NDRC) recently.
In the first two months, Shaanxi Province in northwest China has set off 326 China-Europe freight trains during the same period, 1.9 times higher than that of last year.
During the same period, a total of 264 freight trains had departed from Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, up 76.8 percent year-on-year.
Meanwhile, the China-Europe freight trains at the four major ports namely Horgos, Alashankou, Manzhouli, and Erenhot also maintained smooth operation amid the epidemic.
The steady operation of the freight train service in China was attributed to the policy support given by local transportation departments.
It is noted that the relevant departments in Shaanxi Province opened unique inspection windows and green channels for the freight trains to ensure the timely transport of cargos as well as to help enterprises resume work and production.
Local custom in central Henan Province ensured the rapid customs clearance during the epidemic by providing 7X24 hour reservation service for the freight trains.
As of Sichuan Province, local departments maintained close contact with overseas customs to secure the regular operation of freight trains, while the province also issued preferential policies in promoting supply chain and logistics enterprises to resume work and production amid the epidemic.
NDRC, China's top economic planner reveals that efforts will be made to simplify transport and customs clearance procedures further, to increase the capacity of the freight trains, and make full use of the freight trains to expand foreign trade. (Edited by Jiang Feifan, 346129473@qq.com)
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