BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) – A new China-Europe freight train route linking Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province, and Moscow, capital of Russia was launched on March 24, reported the local media Changsha Evening Paper Wednesday.
The first freight train on the route, loaded with 33,000 U.S. dollars worth of mechanical and electrical products, textiles, and other cargo, departed from Changsha and will arrive in Moscow in 14 days. The freight train will enter Russia via the Manzhouli Port in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The new through train from Changsha to Moscow can reduce the logistic time by three to five days at least, as compared the previous train link transferred at Minsk, according to Sinotrans Limited, a logistic
The operation of the freight train route marks a critical step for Changsha in facilitating foreign trade with Russia, as well as the development of international logistics channels in the city, said a local official.
The trade between Changsha and Russia has been on the rise in recent years. Data from the local customs show that the city’s imports and exports to Russia totaled 1.343 billion yuan in the first two months of the year, up 265.43 percent over the year earlier period.
By far, Changsha has seen ten freight train links to15 European countries such as Germany and Hungary, with logistics services covering 30 countries. (Edited by Jiang Feifan with Xinhua Silk Road, 346129473@qq.com)