C. China's city sees 200 China-Europe freight trains in first two months

Aerial photo shows a China-Europe freight train bound for Helsinki, Finland departing from Putian Station of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan)

The China-Europe freight trains departing from Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, have made 200 trips in the first two months of this year, 1.4 times of that in the same period of last year, according to the local authorities.

Data showed that such freight trains carried overall 134,000 tonnes of cargo during the period, 1.7 times of that in the same period of last year.

On January 20, a new China-Europe freight train route linking the city and Katowice in Poland was successfully launched. This is the first direct train line from China to Central and Eastern European countries, providing a new channel for strengthening trade between Henan Province and Central and Eastern European countries .

Since the launch of the China-Europe freight train service in the city in July, 2013, the trains have seen rising trips, with nine routes extending to Europe, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, etc.

In 2020, in the face of the severe challenges brought by COVID-19, the China-Europe freight trains departing from or arriving in the city played an important role in boosting the province's trade with other countries and regions.

The China-Europe rail transport service was initiated in 2011 and is considered a significant component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to boost trade between China and countries participating in the initiative.