International Trade and Logistic Park in Xi’an, Shaanxi province in Northwest China, launched a series of land-sea intermodal cargo transport services on March 25, linking Xi'an and Ningbo, a coastal city in Zhejiang province, and Xi'an and Qingdao, a port city in Shandong province.

Gao Gao (third from the right) delivers a speech at the departure ceremony held on March 25. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

With the whistle and wheels ringing, the cargo train loaded with Russian imported plates and mechanical and electrical equipment slowly departed the Xi'an Port.

The train has 41 containers, which are organized and operated by Xi'an Port and central enterprises such as COSCO Maritime Transport, China Post and China Merchants Bureau Logistics Group. This marks the first step for Xi'an Port to build a large land-sea transport corridor.

The cargo train with imported goods heading to the coastal cities in East China. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

According to Sun Yimin, director of the Management Committee of Xi'an International Trade and Logistic Park, the opening of Xi'an-Ningbo and Xi'an-Qingdao land-sea intermodal transport lines will link up with the distribution of the Chang'an cargo source of CR Express with high efficiency. 

It will make the 21st century Maritime Silk Road and the Silk Road Economic Belt be closely linked in Xi'an Port, so as to truly realize the construction of a fast and efficient sea-rail intermodal transport corridor linking East with West, connecting Europe and Asia, thus further enlarging Xi'an's advantages of location, timeliness and cost.

In addition, it will help Xi'an build a national railway massing center for CR Express between China and Europe, to take the lead in realizing high-quality and market-oriented development throughout the country.

“This will further promote the export-oriented economy of Xi'an and its construction of a national central city,” Sun said.