Off the wire
Top news items of leading Kenyan media outlets  • Xi calls for armed forces reform  • DR Congo army launches operation against militia group  • Singapore stocks close 0.27 pct higher  • Nepal gov't allocates Rs 750 mln as emergency disaster response  • Fiji thanks China for funding Presidential Compound fence repairs  • 1st LD-Writethru: China's stocks slump Wednesday  • Malawi president orders arrest of Aniva "the hyena"  • Roundup: Japan announces 266 bln USD stimulus package to kickstart sluggish economy  • Malaysia Airlines orders 50 Boeing 737 MAX jets for 5.5 bln USD  
You are here:   Home

New China-Kazakhstan freight rail route launched

Xinhua, July 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

The first freight train service linking northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region with Kazakhstan launched Wednesday.

The train, which was loaded with building materials and other commodities, left Jiuyuan Logistics Park in Baotou City Wednesday morning. The 4,332-km trip to Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, will take eight days.

On its return journey, the train will carry goods such as mineral resources, according to a Hohhot Railway Bureau official.

Hohhot Railway Bureau built the logistics park, which features special platforms and storehouses for freight, at a cost of 1.3 billion yuan (195 million U.S. dollars).

"The new rail service, which follows the ancient Silk Road trade route, will support the regional export market," said Lu Zhi, vice mayor of Baotou.

Around 15 freight trains will make the journey this year.

Many cities, including Chengdu, Chongqing and Harbin, have launched freight services to boost trade with central Asia and Europe in recent years. Endi