Train No. X9015, a China-Europe freight train, leaves for Kazakhstan from Xi'an International Port in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, July 29, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- A China-Europe freight train left Xi'an International Port Station for Hamburg, Germany on August 21, marking the operation of the 10,000th China-Europe freight train in 2022.
Characterized by transcontinental, long-distance, round-the-clock, green and low-carbon transportation with large freight volume, China-Europe freight trains have effectively ensured the stability of global industrial and supply chains, strengthened the connectivity of Asia and Europe, driven the overall development of the two continents, and benefited the people of Belt and Road countries.
-- Larger scale
The Duisburg Intermodal Terminal (DIT) of the Port of Duisburg is the terminus of China-Europe freight trains in Germany.
According to data from the Duisport Group, its sales revenue and net profit in 2021 rose by 18.9 percent and more than 30 percent year on year, respectively, and China-related business continued to grow. In 2021, the city saw a maximum of 70 China-Europe freight train trips per week, setting a new record in the transportation volume.
Markus Bangen, CEO of the Duisport Group, said that China-Europe freight trains are developing rapidly and maintaining a sound momentum of development. As the successful cooperation between China and Germany has benefited both sides, he looks forward to expanding the cooperation in the future.
Data show that from 2016 to 2021, the annual operation of the trains surged from 1,702 to 15,183, with an average annual increase of 55 percent. So far, the trains have reached 200 cities in 24 European countries and the number of routes totaled 82, forming a network of major land passages connecting Asia and Europe.
In 2021, the time cost of China-Europe freight trains was shortened from 24 days at the beginning to a minimum of 12 days. With steady improvement in the operation quality and efficiency, the categories of goods have been continuously increased. There have been more than 50,000 varieties in 53 categories, involving goods such as vehicles, mechanical equipment and electronic products, with the value amounting to nearly 300 billion U.S. dollars.
-- Stronger cohesion
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the operation of China-Europe freight trains guaranteed the normal production at the Allur manufacturing base in Kazakhstan, avoiding suspension of business operations and unemployment of workers. "The pandemic has led to the suspension of some or even all production activities of auto manufacturers in many countries. Thanks to the normal operation of China-Europe freight trains, Chinese enterprises transported auto parts promptly, providing an important guarantee for our uninterrupted production activities," a general manager of an auto company in Allur base said.
By taking the advantages of China-Europe freight trains such as high speed, large capacity, safety and high efficiency, China has given priority to the transportation of anti-COVID-19 material supplies. By the end of June 2022, the trains have transported 14.17 million pieces of anti-COVID-19 material supplies, totaling 109,000 tonnes, which is a vivid interpretation of the community with a shared future for mankind.
-- More benefits
At the end of June, a new intermodal terminal along a route of China-Europe freight trains was put into operation in Zamosc, Poland. The terminal, with two 700-meter-long wide and standard gauge railways, had a capacity of cargo transfer of only about 2,000 TEUs previously. Nowadays, its capacity has been increased to 150,000 TEUs and two new wide and standard gauge railways, with a length of 900 meters, have been built.
Thanks to the station of China-Europe freight trains in Zamosc, Malaszewicze attracted dozens of logistics enterprises and thus became the largest railway transfer station in Poland and an important logistics hub of the European Union. In November 2021, the Government of Poland approved the terminal renovation project in Malaszewicze, with a total investment of more than 3 billion Polish zloty. Its cargo transportation capacity is expected to be expanded by three times.
China-Europe freight trains have created new prospects for the development of cities and created new opportunities for the foreign trade of relevant countries. Data show that the value of trade between China and countries along the routes reached 11.6 trillion yuan and China's direct investment in those countries amounted to 138.45 billion yuan.
Androsiuk Zdzisław, president of Agrostop, a Polish company, said, "I have worked in the logistics industry for more than 30 years, I can feel the great changes brought to the logistics and trade industries by China-Europe freight trains. As the number of containers transported between China and Europe via the trains is increasing, we have gained opportunities for development."
(Edited by Bao Nuomin with Xinhua Silk Road, baonuomin@xinhua.org)
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