All aboard the trade express! 🚆
In an exciting leap for Asia-Europe trade, the first ASEAN Express train zoomed out of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality heading for Malaszewicze, Poland, early Friday morning. 🌄 This new route is set to supercharge trade between Asia and Europe, and we're here for it! 🙌
The train, loaded with automotive electronic components and other goodies, departed from Chongqing's Tuanjiecun Station at around 5 a.m. It's expected to reach Poland in about two weeks. But get this—the journey actually started in Hanoi, Vietnam, on October 15! 🇻🇳 The train made a pit stop in Chongqing for a quick makeover before hitting the tracks again. 🚧
This move marks the first time the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the China-Europe freight train service have teamed up seamlessly. Translation? Faster, smoother, and more efficient trade between Asia and Europe! 🚀 The total journey from Vietnam to Poland will take about 25 days, shaving off up to 10 days compared to older routes. Talk about a glow-up! ✨
Liu Taiping, general manager at Yuxinou Supply Chain Management, says the express train speeds up transit and simplifies customs clearance. \"We're making trade as easy as sending a text message,\" he quipped. 📱
Before this, shipping goods from ASEAN countries to Europe was like running a marathon—long and tiring. 🥵 \"We had to use two separate routes and platforms, which was super complicated,\" said He Daoguo, general manager of Chongqing Meilian International Warehouse & Transport. \"Now, with this new collaboration, we're cutting logistics costs by about 15%! 💸\"
Ding Yao, head of the Chongqing Academy of Economics Research, believes this express line is a game-changer. \"It's connecting major trade routes and turning Chongqing into a key inland hub for the Belt and Road Initiative,\" she said. \"It's like the world just got a little smaller.\" 🌍
The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, with Chongqing at its heart, connects global ports via railways, sea routes, and highways through southern and southwestern China, including Guangxi and Yunnan. As of August 2024, this corridor had spread its wings to 523 ports across 124 countries and regions. 🗺️
The China-Europe freight train service, launched in 2011, has been on the rise, especially since the Belt and Road Initiative kicked off. Looks like the future of international trade is on the fast track! 🛤️
Reference(s):
Asia-Europe trade on track as ASEAN Express accelerates from SW China
cgtn.com
