Mongolia sees 900 China-Europe freight trains passing through so far this year

The number of the China-Europe freight trains via Mongolia so far this year has reached 900, according to a press release from the Ulan Bator railway company on Wednesday.

"A total of 900 China-Europe freight trains have travelled through the territory of Mongolia since the beginning of this year. The figure is expected to reach 1,300 by the end of the year," it said.

The China-Europe freight rail service network is a crucial part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

"We are happy that the number of the China-Europe freight trains via Mongolia has been dramatically increasing year by year," said Tuvshintugs Battsetseg, deputy director of the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia.

"As the service expands, its contribution to the Mongolian economy has been increasing," the official said in an interview with Xinhua in February.

There were 556 China-Europe freight trains traveling through Mongolia in 2017 and the number reached 856 in 2018.