Henan has great potential for further collaboration with ASEAN. Trains bound for ASEAN depart regularly from Zhengzhou International Land Port every day. Over the years, Henan has embraced the Belt and Road Initiative, seized the opportunities presented by RCEP, and leveraged its transportation hub advantages to strengthen ties between China and its neighboring countries.
On April 14, as dawn broke, a China-Laos freight train loaded with compound fertilizer departed from Putian Station in Zhengzhou, marking the one-year anniversary of the route's 200th regular operation.
Data shows that last year, Henan operated a total of 3,890 international freight trains, with a cargo volume of 289,000 TEUs. Among them, ASEAN-bound trains accounted for 406 trips, a 190% increase year-on-year. In the first quarter of this year, train departures have doubled compared to the same period last year.
In August last year, fresh Malaysian durians arrived in Zhengzhou on a chartered flight, marking their first entry into China. One month later, Cambodian pepper and cashews imported by Zhengzhou Agricultural Development Group made their debut in the Henan market.
A few days ago, the China (Zhengzhou) – ASEAN (Malaysia) Brand Promotion Event was held in Zhengzhou, marking the first arrival of premium Malaysian pineapples. In the first quarter of this year, Zhengzhou Airport Customs supervised the import of 136 batches of Malaysian fruits, totaling 1,501 tons, with month-on-month increases of 178% and 156%, respectively.
In recent years, Zhengzhou Airport has launched multiple routes to destinations including Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, and Malaysia. Malaysia's Raya Airways became the first Southeast Asian cargo airline to operate at Zhengzhou Airport, and Cambodia Angkor Air established its China headquarters there. These changes have paved the way for the comprehensive establishment of the Henan-Cambodia-ASEAN "Air Silk Road", further strengthening "hub-to-hub" connectivity.
In addition, CREG's tunnel boring machines are being exported to countries like Malaysia and Singapore, xFusion has established supply centers in both Malaysia and Singapore, and Mixue has over 4,000 stores across Southeast Asia. ASEAN is rapidly becoming a key market for more and more companies from Henan.
Moreover, Henan is expanding its ties with ASEAN beyond trade and commerce to include culture and tourism.
Since last year, a series of cultural events, including "the China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchange Year" have been held. The ASEAN-Henan (Zhengzhou) Cooperation Conference on Food and Agriculture was successfully conducted, with 33 Chinese and foreign companies signing on-site agreements totaling over 10 billion yuan. Additionally, Air Cambodia has reached a cooperation agreement with Yanlu Kungfu School and Zhengzhou Physical Education Vocational College for joint training of aviation professionals and cultural and sports exchanges.
Leveraging its openness, Henan is developing the Pilot Free Trade Zone within the RCEP framework, turning its hub advantages into a driving force for cultural exchange. (Chinese source: Henan Daily Reporter: Wang Yanhui and Qi Daopeng Translator: Ding Lan)
