Grand Ceremony for Transfer of First Test Train across Japan and Korea in Eurasia Land-Sea Trade Corridor

On July 2, 2021, a grand ceremony for the successful transfer of the first test train which runs across Japan and Korea in the Eurasia Land-Sea Trade Corridor was held at the automobile import port in Xi'an Port! This event is of great significance to the construction of the Eurasia Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the improvement of the city status of Xi'an as a hub!

Wei Jianfeng, vice governor of Shaanxi Province, attended the event. Shen Liping, deputy mayor of Xi'an City, host the event. Wang Jianping, deputy secretary-general, Zhao Jing, director of Shaanxi Provincial Department of Commerce, Liu Yingjun, deputy head of Shaanxi Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Tang Yugang, deputy director of Shaanxi Provincial Department of Commerce, Ying Xiaoli, deputy director of Xi'an Customs, Zhang Yuhu, chief accountant of China Railway Container Transport Co., Ltd. (CRCT), Wang Liminming, deputy general manager of China Railway Xi'an Group Co., Ltd. and other distinguished delegates from Shaanxi Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Shaanxi Provincial Department of Commerce, Administrative Committee of Xi'an International Trade and Logistic Park, China Railway Container Transport Co., Ltd. (CRCT), stations and the Customs, Xi'an branch of the Intermodal, ITL Group and partners related to the train attended this event.

Wei Jianfeng, vice governor of Shaanxi Province, indicated that the running of the test train was the specific initiative to thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech delivered in his investigation in Shaanxi to accelerate the construction of the Eurasia Land-Sea Trade Corridor and compensate for weaknesses in opening-up. Then the inland reform and opening-up pioneer area can be formed eventually. He further stressed that optimization in services and the strengthening of foreign cooperation were needed. China Railway Express should play a leading role in promoting the deeply integrated construction of the overall pattern of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

With the firm support from the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Commerce, the test train was operated under the cooperation of Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd. and the Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL). The first test train (Europe-Xi'an-Korea) departed on June 17, 2021, and arrived in Xi'an on July 1, 2021. The first test train (Japan-Xi'an-Europe) departed successfully on July 1, 2021. Normal operation of two-way train would be achieved in near future.

In accordance with the report, the test train (Europe-Xi'an-Korea) is loaded with recyclable packing materials of LG which are manufactured in their plants in Poland. It is also the first time for LG to transport their goods through the rail-sea intermodal transportation model and the China Railway Express (CRE) Chang'an international freight train. The test train departed from Malaszewicze (Poland) to Xi'an. Then it would transfer to Qingdao Port by railway and finally arrive in Korea by sea. The test train (Japan-Xi;an-Europe) is loaded with auto parts. It arrived in Qingdao Port from Japan by sea and was transferred to Xi'an by railway. Then it would take China Railway Express (CRE) Chang'an international freight train to Duisburg (Germany). Compared with traditional maritime transportation, the new rail-sea intermodal transportation model will effectively shorten the shipping time and lower down the logistics cost. Therefore, overstocking can be reduced in time to free the flow of capital and promote the effective operation of enterprises.

In the future, ITL Group will continue to strengthen foreign cooperation. We will promote the construction of Xi'an Port to make it a basic port for the Japan-Korea Cross Border Operation Route and achieve a seamless connection between shipping, inland trade trains and China Railway Express to facilitate Xi'an playing a leading role as the distribution center in China Railway Express. We will also strive to speed up the construction of the China Railway Express (Xi'an) Collaboration Center to strengthen the attraction of the "Bring-in" strategy and the competitiveness of the "Go Global" strategy of China Railway Express (CRE) Chang'an international freight train under the dual circulation development model. We believe that the land-sea integration and the cooperation between China and foreign countries will advance an opening development to mutual achievements between the East and the West.