On the afternoon of February 12, 2021, as the locomotive engine drives the wheels of the train to rotate for the first time, a China-Europe train slowly leaves Pinghu South Station. The train is fully loaded with electronic, electromechanical and textile products made in China and goes to 13438 Duisburg, Germany, a kilometer away, this is the 40th China-Europe Express train issued in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in 2021, an increase of 471.4% over the same period in 2020.

The reporter learned from the Guangzhou Railway Group that the train departs from Shenzhen and exits through Alashankou. It is expected to arrive in Duisburg 16 days later. It is a newly opened international trade channel in the Greater Bay Area in August 2020. At present, the Shilong, Pinghunan, Dalang, and Changping stations in the Greater Bay Area have opened the China-Europe Express, mainly to countries along the route such as Germany, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan.

China-Europe Express has witnessed the rapid development of the Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative connects the Asia-Pacific Economic Circle in the east and the European Economic Circle in the west. The opening of the China-Europe Express Train has provided a new channel for opening up trade "barriers" in the Eurasian region, which not only greatly strengthens the circulation of materials, but also promotes a large number of domestic enterprises and enterprises from countries along the route Investment cooperation.

"From the initial trial of scattered delivery to the normalization of the unified brand, the China-Europe train has added many new routes and new sources of goods." Pu Sui, freight supervisor of Dongguan Shilong Station, told reporters that the import demand for light industrial consumer goods such as Russia and Germany is relatively high. As the starting point of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is the "peach blossom source" for the manufacture of light industrial products. When faced with "new things", most foreign trade companies have remained on the sidelines.

"After the China-Europe class list has shown strong'vitality', more and more companies are interested in the China-Europe class train." At present, Shilong Station has opened two channels: "Guangdong, New Europe" and "Guangdong, Manchuria and Russia". More than 600 cross-border trains have been opened, with more than 500 types of goods. "

“China-Europe Express trains gather their advantages in time efficiency, cost, volume, and stability, and enjoy a high reputation in cross-border transportation.” said Xie Hanqing, the relevant person in charge of Sinotrans Shenzhen International Logistics Co., Ltd., “especially in the face of the epidemic, air and sea freight As a result, the stable operation of the China-Europe Express trains is nothing short of sending charcoal in the snow, so the cooperative relationship with customers from countries along the route has become more stable."

"With the support of the government, we actively coordinate with domestic and foreign customers, Sinotrans South China Co., Ltd., customs, etc., and at the same time cooperate with the Guangzhou Locomotive Depot and Depot to ensure the source of vehicles and boxes, and ensure the smooth operation of the train. "The relevant person in charge of Guangzhou Railway Group Guangzhou Freight Center Lu Hao introduced. The opening of the China-Europe Express train involves inter-state policies externally and coordination among local governments, departments and enterprises internally. As the China-Europe Express trains are gradually maturing and shifting from government subsidies to high-quality development, they also reflect the "Chinese power" in the construction of the Belt and Road every year.

With the rapid development of science and technology, the China-Europe Express has changed its traditional model, and the cross-border e-commerce China-Europe Express of "Internet + Channel" has begun to appear, especially in the new development pattern of "double cycle". The "Internet Silk Road" has opened up all links of production, distribution, circulation, and consumption, and promoted the cross-border flow of service elements.

Over the past eight years, the construction of the Belt and Road has broken through numerous difficulties and achieved high-quality development, and the number of China-Europe express trains has continued to increase. In 2013, the operating mileage of high-speed rail was only 11,000 kilometers, and it has been nearly 40,000 kilometers so far. It relieves the pressure of passenger transportation year by year, while simultaneously freeing up huge capacity for freight. Taking this opportunity, the China-Europe train has also been operated from the initial pilot program. The number of banks opened exceeds 10,000, and domestic sources of goods cover 92 cities in 21 countries overseas. Behind the vigorous development of China-Europe Railway Express in the past eight years, it undoubtedly reflects the great changes in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. Editor/Xu Shengpeng