A China-Europe freight train left Xuzhou Friday morning for Moscow, Russia, to set foot on its maiden journey.
The 100-TEUs loaded onto the freight train will export road rollers, graders and loaders to Russia. Valued at 15.15 million yuan, the construction machines are manufactured by Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group.
The regular freight train service between Xuzhou and Moscow will help the construction machinery conglomerate to make further inroads into the overseas market.
To be operated on a monthly basis, the Xuzhou-Moscow freight train will also give a strong impetus to the role of Xuzhou as the central city of the Huaihai Economic Belt.
China-Europe freight trains made 6,363 trips in 2018, surging 73 percent from 2017, the China Railway Corporation said.
Freight traffic has been more balanced, with the number of trips from Europe to China accounting for 72 percent of trips, up from 53 percent in 2017.
The trains connect 59 Chinese cities with 49 cities in 15 European countries.
The freight service, a crucial part of the Belt and Road Initiative, began operation in March 2011.
For the past years, trains have rumbled along the route, taking garments, auto parts, chemicals and other Chinese goods to European consumers, while bringing back European food, machinery, equipment and timber.
（source：ourjiangsu.com ）
