Full steam ahead for new service to Hamburg

China's northeastern city of Changchun saw its first freight train depart for the German port of Hamburg last Friday.

The journey from Jilin province will take 12-15 days at a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour, according to a local official.

Changchun Mayor Liu Changlong said at the opening ceremony that the move will give impetus to the city's economy and further integrate Changchun with the rest of the world.

"A growing number of products made in China will be exported to the European market, then on to the whole world," Liu said.

"Meanwhile, more sectors, capital and technologies will be drawn to Changchun, which is fundamental to help rejuvenate the old industrial base in Northeast China."

The train is hauling auto parts, electronic machinery and equipment, valves and clothing made in Jilin province or other places in northern China.

It will pass through Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany and Belgium before it arrives at its destination.

The freight train service, officially known as the China Railway Express, is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative. Its part of the set of transcontinental cargo trains linking China, Europe, and some other economies participating in the initiative.

In the past five years, China has launched about 5,500 freight train services linking the country with the European market, China Central Television reported.

As of mid-September, freight trains connected 33 Chinese cities with 32 cities in 12 European countries, according to state television.

(China Daily 10/19/2017 page10)