New China-Europe freight train route linking NW China's Xinjiang and Yekaterinburg launched

Aerial photo taken on June 3, 2021 shows cross-border e-commerce packages being transported to Kazakhstan from Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Gu Yu)

A China-Europe freight train loaded with 50 TEUs of goods departed from Urumqi Free Trade Zone recently. Through Alashankou Port, the train will finally arrive in Yekaterinburg of Russia after a 7-day trip, reported Guangming Daily Monday.

According to local customs, cargo on the train was mainly sunflower seeds from Xinjiang, weighing 1,104.4 tons and valuing about 1.45 million U.S. dollars. The train marks the first China-Europe freight train connecting Xinjiang and Yekaterinburg, which is of great significance to speeding up the construction of Urumqi Free Trade Zone as well as forming a new pattern of opening-up.

In order to ensure the smooth customs clearance of this train, Wuchang Customs and relevant departments have achieved policy coordination and operation cooperation, which greatly improved the customs clearance efficiency.

Taking bonded service functions and policy advantages, Urumqi Free Trade Zone has formed a comprehensive boned zone which combines functions as comprehensive bonded zone, port and freight station.