On October 6, a China-Europe freight train carrying 50 containers of cargo bound for Hamburg of Germany departed from CR Intermodal Zhengzhou Terminal in Central China's Henan province.
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"It was the 1,114th trip (5,000th trip in total) between Zhengzhou and Europe this year." Guo Xinnian, deputy general manager of Zhengzhou International Hub Development and Construction Co. Ltd., the operator of China-Europe freight train (Zhengzhou) service, said that "In recent years, by stressing quality and quantity, we have transported more goods with extended routes and trips."
On July 18 of 8 years ago, China-Europe freight train (Zhengzhou) service was officially launched, opening up the first international freight channel directly linking Central China with Europe. Over the past 8 years, Henan's opening-up was also accelerated with the "Land Silk Road" bolstered by China-Europe freight train (Zhengzhou).
Nowadays, China-Europe freight train (Zhengzhou) has become a highlight of Henan in the Belt and Road construction. So far, a total of 5,000 trips have been made with 2.8519-million-ton goods valued at 20.589 billion US dollars transported. This year, 1,114 trips have been made up to now, which is already close to the total number of trips made throughout 2020.
A China-Europe freight train (Zhengzhou). [Photo: Li Zhangpeng/Henan Daily]
Statistically, China-Europe freight train has opened 73 routes, covering more than 170 cities in 23 European countries, with over 50 thousand types of goods that can be transported. Now, China-Europe freight train (Zhengzhou) has realized a kind of high-frequency operation mode featuring 16 goes and 18 returns. Relying on market and quality, it has secured its place in the country's "first phalanx".
Linking China with the world and covering the country's eastern, central and western regions, China-Europe freight train (Zhengzhou) has fostered a freight network and developed Zhengzhou into a freight hub. Over the past 8 years, 10 freight routes linking Zhengzhou with Hamburg, Munich, Alma-Ata, Tashkent, Liege, Hanoi, Moscow, Helsinki, Katowice and Milan had been launched and realized regular operation, basically forming an international logistics channel linking Henan with Europe, Central Asia, the ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region (Japan, South Korea, etc.). Besides, its collection and distribution centers abroad cover more than 130 cities in over 30 countries with thousands of different types of goods that can be transported, including clothing, household supplies, vehicles and spare parts, electronic products, mechanical equipment, medical appliances, various types of food and specialties, etc. Given its irreplaceable role in stabling the global supply chain, it was commended as a reliable strategic corridor by the National Development and Reform Commission.
"The 5,000th trip is not only a landmark, but also a new start." Zhao Wenming, general manager of Zhengzhou International Hub Development and Construction Co. Ltd., said that by actively participating in the "dual circulation" development pattern and reshaping its competitiveness, China-Europe freight train (Zhengzhou) service will focus on the development of high-level connectivity and high-quality multimodal transport system, accelerate the construction of China-Europe freight train assembly center in Zhengzhou and foster an innovative trend with the coordinated development of Henan's four Silk Roads (namely the Air Silk Road, the Land Silk Road, the Maritime Silk Road and the Online Silk Road) to further consolidate Zhengzhou's role as a freight hub and expand the current freight route network, promote the interconnected development of different industries, and help Henan fully upgrade its advantage as an opening-up corridor and its economy as a freight hub. (Chinese source: Henan Daily Translator: Zhao Hanqing Video/Photo: Wang Junyi Proofreader: Chen Xingjie)
