Launch of Tailored CRE Xi'an–Belgrade Train: Empowering Shaanxi Manufacturing to Go Global

On September 26, 2024, the tailored China Railway Express (CRE) train from Xi'an to Belgrade embarked on its inaugural journey, marked by the sound of the locomotive's whistle. This train transported construction materials for steel structures produced by local enterprises in Shaanxi. This move was customized by the Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd. (the company for short) according to customer needs, aiming to facilitate the global reach of Shaanxi manufacturing while supporting vital project developments in Serbia.

The cargo will be used in the Clean Serbia project, which represents the largest environmental project contracted by Chinese companies in Serbia. Upon completion, this project is expected to significantly improve the livability of Serbia and address public welfare issues. With the project's construction deadline approaching, traditional maritime transport could not ensure the scheduled delivery of these construction materials. In response, the company swiftly developed a tailored train service for Shaanxi manufacturing enterprises involved in the cooperation. This included urgent scheduling of dedicated freight space, specialized container loading solutions tailored to the goods packing, and close coordination with the logistics center of China Railway Xi'an Group Co., Ltd. to guarantee the safe and smooth dispatch of the cargo.

Serbia stands at the crossroads of Europe in the north-central Balkan Peninsula. It was the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to establish a strategic partnership with China and the first country in Europe to grant Chinese passport holders visa-free entry. Belgrade, the capital, sits at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers and is one of Europe's oldest cities, serving as a vital hub for East-West transport.

As a flagship project and iconic brand of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the CRE has become essential for maintaining stable and efficient international supply chains. Since the regular operation of the Central and Eastern Europe premium route of the CRE (Xi'an), this route has gained significant traction among customers due to its dependable transport timelines, greatly enhancing economic and trade interactions between China and Serbia. The successful launch of the CRE (Xi'an–Belgrade) tailored to Shaanxi manufacturing not only offers precise and diverse services for customers but also benefits more products made in Shaanxi from the BRI, promoting the vision of gathering Shaanxi products for global transportation. Moving forward, with guidance from China State Railway Group and robust support from the Xi'an Chan-Ba International Port Management Committee, China Railway Xi'an Group, and Xi'an Customs District P.R.China, the company will continue to enhance the operational quality and efficiency of the CRE (Xi'an), facilitate the development of Shaanxi's outward-oriented economy, and contribute to promoting high-quality BRI cooperation and creating a new height for high-level opening-up.