A freight train returning from Germany's Duisburg arrived at the Urumqi China-Europe Freight Train Logistics Center in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on May 16.

The train takes only 14 days to traverse its sea-railway transportation route, cutting shipping time by approximately 40 days. “Such freight trains help boost trade between Xinjiang and countries along the Belt and Road. Local products can be transported to Russia, Turkey, Germany and others in a shorter amount of time, said Li Liangpu, deputy general manager of Xinjiang Zhong Tai Group.

Train X9081 left the Urumqi China-Europe Freight Train Logistics Center on May 16 full of local goods bound for Almaty, Kazakhstan. It was the 300th train voyage from the center since it began operations in May 2016.

"We signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Kazakhstan. We opened a green channel in the country which simplifies customs clearance procedures and helps us cut the operational time of freight trains," said Zhou Yanhong, deputy general manager of the Global Transportation and Logistics Company of the Urumqi Railway Administration.

The logistics center provides transport plans according to customer requirements, attracting more and more enterprises to ship products from the center and boosting international trade between China and other countries.

The center has operated a total of 515 trains since launching its first international freight route in March 2014.

“The center plans to run 500 trains this year, and add trains returning to Chinese cities loaded with European goods,” said Peng Ji, deputy director of the Xinjiang Economic and Information Commission.

The 300th freight train leaves the logistics center in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo/uetd.gov.cn]

The 300th freight train leaves the logistics center in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo/uetd.gov.cn]

Edited by Zachary Dye