Freight train to Russia marks increase in Guangdong exports

A China-Europe freight train departed from Shenzhen, Guangdong province, late last week, heading for Vorsino in Russia.

The train is carrying more than 640 metric tons of color ultrasound equipment, sweeping and mopping robots and related goods. It will exit the mainland via the Manzhouli train port in Inner Mongolia and arrive at its destination in 18 days.

According to a statement released by Guangdong Customs on Tuesday, the train is one of a growing number of freight trains leaving Guangdong for Europe since the beginning of the year.

The statement said Guangdong's import and export volume through China-Europe freight trains has reached a new high in the first two months of the year.

The province saw 166 international freight trains operating in January and February, a 5 percent year-on-year growth. The growth rate of export trains also increased by 12.5 percent year-on-year, hitting a record high for the period.

"The China-Europe freight trains are now playing a big part in meeting the growing demands for the sustainable development of the foreign trade industry in Guangdong, which is the country's biggest foreign trader," said the statement.

Customs statistics indicated that Guangdong's foreign trade with the European Union increased 12.1 percent in the first two months of the year.

The statement said the China-Europe freight train operation has become essential for Guangdong to implement the country's Belt and Road Initiative.

Guangdong Customs will continue to implement various customs clearance measures, optimize the port business environment and improve cross-border transportation to ensure the stable and high-quality operation of international freight trains in Guangdong to better serve the province's foreign trade industrial development in the months in advance, the statement added.