Trans-Eurasia railway connects China with Europe

The Yuxinou Railway connects China with Europe by crossing the vast Eurasian landmass. The 11,179 kilometer Yuxinou International Railway line, often referred to as the modern Silk Road, starts in Chongqing in southwest China, crosses the Alataw Pass into Kazakhstan, and then moves through Russia, Belarus and Poland before arriving in Duisburg, Germany. The railway started operations in 2011. Unlike on previous trips which only transported products from China to Europe, for the first time, products have been brought back from Europe to Chongqing on the line. After a 17-day journey, starting from Duisburg, Germany, and passing through five countries, this valuable shipment of vehicle components has finally arrived at the Changan Ford Chongqing factory in China’s southwest. Since 2011, the rail line has transported more than 2.5 billion US dollars worth of products from China to Europe. Deputy Director of Logistics Council of the Chongqing Gov’t, Yang Liqiong, said, “If the trains arrive empty, it does not help us in reducing transportation costs, then it’s not conducive for the formation of the global trade link.“ The rail line is vital for foreign companies operating in Chongqing and for western China’s economic development. “This is a cost effective way to bring goods out of and in to Chongqing. So in terms of the scale, and efficiency, especially the goods devalue costs of time, it’s critical for the infrastructure of the development of Chongqing,“ said Henley Travis, VP of HP Asia Operations. According to the Ministry of Commerce, in the first three quarters of 2012, trade between China and the EU reached about 420 billion US dollars. China has been relying on its advantages in labor and resources to export manufactured products to Europe. The Yu-Xin-Ou has given significant advantages to Chongqing and to the economic growth of western China. After 2 years in operation, the Yuxinou Railway system has resolved customs clearance of each country along the way. Regular service sets the scene for Chongqing to become the distribution center of European trade with China. Experts stress that they will be aiming to reduce the logistic costs to enhance the line’s economic value this year.