Since 2021, China has opened 14 new freight trains to other cities in China, Europe and Central Asia via Horgos in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, making this largest dry port in western China an even more important trading hub.

Khorgos has always been an important gateway connecting Asia with Europe and other regions along the ancient Silk Road. It now passes through the Silk Road Economic Belt, which is part of the One Belt One Road initiative proposed by China in 2013.

International Golden Channel

According to Khorgos Customs statistics, in the first seven months of 2021, more than 3,600 freight trains passed through the city, a year-on-year increase of 44%. At the same time, freight volumes increased by 56% to more than 5 million tons. Trucks are transported in sections and adopt the "full load and go" flexible less-than-carload mode.

According to Zhao Qilong, a Khorgos customs officer, more than 200 kinds of goods are transported through Khorgos's 35 inbound and outbound railways. Together, they cover 45 cities in 18 countries, including Georgia, Germany, and Poland.

After the expansion and reconstruction at the end of 2020, the transportation capacity of Khorgos Port has increased by more than 30%. According to the COVID-19 containment measures, the local government of the city has been coordinating with various departments such as customs, railways and border inspections to manage carriage transfers. , Marshalling, inspection and customs clearance. The time required for customs clearance for a train has been reduced from 3.5 hours to only 1 hour.

Chen Jinqiang, an engineer in the operation and management department of the Horgos Railway Port Station, said that they take turns to maintain 24-hour operations. This ensures the port's processing capacity and improves the efficiency of customs clearance. Freight trains have also attracted local companies engaged in foreign trade. With the opening of the new railway line, Xinjiang native products, such as ceramics, chemicals, agricultural products, etc., are being exported to the world.

Zeng Yeqin, International Logistics Manager of Xinjiang Zhonglian Haitong, said that clothing, footwear, daily necessities, building materials, etc. used to be the main items transported by freight trains, but starting from 2020, high value-added products such as mechanical and electrical products, high-tech products, and automobiles will be significant. Increase.

From the opening of the first China-Europe train in Khorgos in March 2016 to July 2021, more than 15,000 China-Europe and China-Central Asia trains have passed through Khorgos Port, with a freight volume of more than 20 million tons. At present, freight trains have become the "golden channel" of the international supply chain between China, Central Asia, and Europe, and are favored by international logistics and supply chain companies. Editor/Tian Zengpeng