International rail freight transport has facilitated trade between China and Eurasia, ensuring import and interprovincial circulation. It is expected to continue playing an important role in the future.
Rail freight has demonstrated significant growth potential in promoting economic development, particularly by improving transportation efficiency, optimizing services, and building modern logistics systems that provide strong support for various businesses. Through in-depth market-oriented reforms, the establishment of green channels, and the promotion of multimodal transport, rail freight has effectively reduced operating costs and contributed to the recovery and development of the national economy.
The launch of the Central Asia freight train signifies the transformation and upgrading of rail freight under the concept of open development. While it brings notable advantages in cost and time, rail freight still faces challenges in proactive openness, bidirectional engagement, and win-win scenarios. Railway departments need to enhance market research and actively broaden their customer base to adapt to the rapidly evolving international logistics market, ensuring the sustainable development of rail freight.
The launch of the first freight train from Xuzhou, Jiangsu to Central Asia highlights the railway industry's proactive approach to promoting the concept of 'open development' amid globalization. This service reduces transport time and costs, enhancing market competitiveness. However, rail freight still faces challenges such as insufficient proactive and mutual openness, and a lack of core competitiveness. There is a need for further improvement in services and market alignment to achieve comprehensive connectivity and promote long-term sustainable development.
Rail freight transport demonstrated strong growth in 2023, reaching a record daily dispatch volume and highlighting its critical role as an economic lifeline. With industrial recovery and accelerating foreign trade, railways play a key role in the logistics system, optimizing transport organization and ensuring timely supply of essential goods, contributing to pandemic relief efforts. The railway sector continues to improve efficiency in modern logistics construction, promoting transformation and upgrading to provide robust support for future economic development.
