China's central region furthers opening up through China-Europe cargo train service

Central China, including the six provinces of Shanxi, Henan, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi, is one of the fastest growing regions in the country.

The central region has excellent geographical advantages in import and export, which is conducive to foreign enterprises to meet the needs of the international market. From 2006 to 2020, the import and export volume of the six central provinces had increased from 53.6 billion to 387.3 billion U.S. dollars.

Railway transport has become a vital link in the international logistics supply chain. Through the China-Europe freight train service, the central region is committed to facilitating cross-border trade, as part of its effort to further opening up.

A key transport hub, Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, is located at the intersection of the national railway network. To enhance its connection with European countries, the city has built an inland port to handle the China-Europe freight trains.

The number of freight train trips via the port jumped from 13 in 2013 to 1,126 in 2020, with the cargo value soaring from 50 million U.S. dollars in 2013 to 4.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, statistics show.

Besides Zhengzhou, many cities in the central region have joined the China-Europe freight train project, which helps make the trade tie between the central region and Europe smoother.

The central region has witnessed continuous economic development, enhanced vitality, improved infrastructure and more convenient transportation and made all-around progress.