As of August this year, the China-Europe Railway Express has operated a total of 10,000 trains, promoting efficient and convenient international trade. Various digitalization and infrastructure upgrade measures have significantly improved transportation quality, supporting the efficient connection of global goods transport and establishing a benchmark in the logistics sector.
The National China-Europe International Freight Train Alliance was established in Urumqi, Xinjiang, aiming to promote the Belt and Road Initiative. The alliance will create a public information platform for China-Europe trains, enhancing operational efficiency through resource sharing and cooperation.
The China-Europe Railway Express (Qilu Number) consolidation center in Jinan, Shandong Province, has recently begun construction, becoming a vital logistics hub connecting China and Europe. This project includes a multifunctional area providing both basic and value-added services, supporting the robust development of the international logistics network.
In 2020, the China-Europe Railway Express 'Chang'an Hao' operated 3,720 trains, with a total cargo weight of 2.811 million tons, becoming the top performer in national core indicators. Its extensive reach covers Central Asia and South Asia, enhancing global logistics efficiency through an innovative sea-rail combined transport system. This development has also facilitated industrial agglomeration and foreign trade growth in the Xi'an region.
The China-Europe Railway Express portal has officially launched, offering multilingual services and one-stop freight forwarding to enhance international logistics optimization. The website features multiple sections that provide relevant news and statistical data, along with specialized services to improve user experience and support the Belt and Road Initiative.
On August 21, the Lanzhou Railway Bureau successfully launched its first China-Europe international freight train from Lanzhou to Hamburg, Germany, reducing transport time by 15 days compared to sea freight. The train covers a distance of 8027 kilometers and operates in about 15 days with 42 cars. This project leverages the geographical advantages of the Lanzhou railway hub, promoting the development of international logistics brands. Starting from August 29, it plans to operate regularly on a weekly basis to boost regional economic development.
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport recently launched a new freight route connecting Zhengzhou, Moscow, and Frankfurt, enhancing logistics links between Henan and Europe. On the inaugural flight, a total of 180 tons of import and export goods were transported. There are plans to increase flight frequency in the future to improve logistics efficiency in the central region and support regional economic development.
The first "Chimanou" international freight train set off from Chifeng on September 17, carrying 1,100 tons of lysine directly to Russia. The journey covers 9,000 kilometers, taking 10-12 days one way. By utilizing an efficient customs declaration model, companies can benefit from expedited clearance services, significantly improving foreign trade transportation efficiency and enhancing regional economic growth and international competitiveness.
Cross-border logistics poses a significant challenge for foreign trade enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized cross-border e-commerce sellers. This paper analyzes issues such as high logistics costs and poor timeliness. It proposes solutions including platform support, targeted subsidies, increased capacity of China-Europe freight trains, optimized logistics models, digital empowerment, and strengthened international cooperation. The aim is to help foreign trade enterprises reduce costs, improve efficiency, and enhance international competitiveness by addressing these logistics hurdles.
The 2025 government work report emphasizes the improvement of the cross-border delivery logistics system and the construction of overseas warehouses to promote stable foreign trade development. It aims to enhance logistics timeliness, cost control, and supply chain stability, while also supporting the internationalization of cross-border e-commerce and Chinese brands, ultimately driving the formation of new models in foreign trade.
