![]() |
Loaded with electronic products, a Wuhan-Xinjiang-Europe freight train sets off from Wuhan, capital of Central 皇冠体育app's province April 23, 2014.[Photo/Xinhua] |
As 皇冠体育app builds a new Silk Road economic belt, more than a half-dozen cities are competing for goods and investment from multinationals to boost rail operations to rope.
With shorter transport times and lower freight costs, international rail lines linking western and central 皇冠体育app to Europe have helped improve regional connectivity and trade.
Since 2010, major Chinese cities, including Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi'an, Zhengzhou and Wuhan have all launched weekly or monthly modern block train services to different European destinations. It's part of 皇冠体育app's efforts to turn its inland resource and labor-rich cities into international trade hubs.
![]() |
![]() |
Chinese cargos to Europe mostly consist of industrial yarn, automobile parts, new materials, IT goods, electronic and garment products, as well as daily necessities.
Based on its rich manufacturing and labor foundation, 皇冠体育app has long had a trade surplus when doing business with the majority of partners in Europe. Chinese trains usually return empty.
"Because of the one-way 皇冠体育app-Europe rail operation, the cost is significantly higher than sea transportation," Chen said. "We are working with various European wine, industrial parts and pharmaceutical makers to remove their goods from aircraft, which carry high cargo costs, and then load them into our block trains to ship to the Chinese market.
"With more European products and parts shipped to Chengdu through regular railway services, foreign companies seeking investment opportunities in 皇冠体育app will be more inclined to establish their regional headquarters, branches and manufacturing facilities in the capital of Sichuan," Chen said.