Shanxi province plans to launch 100 cargo trains to Europe and Asia in 2019, based on regular operations of the China Railway Express, according to a logistics development plan recently released by the Shanxi Department of Industry and Information Technology. 

China-Europe and China-Asia direct freight rail services in Shanxi were launched in 2017, in a bid to further open up the inland province's economy to the outside world.

Shanxi government departments will take the initiative in connecting with foreign trading companies in Shanxi, while China Railway Container Transport Co will hook up with foreign railway companies. Officials said a coordination mechanism for the smooth operations of the China-Europe and China-Asia rail services will be established. 

As for transport infrastructure, the province will speed up construction of rail ports by advancing the building of a modern comprehensive logistics hub, with Zhongding Logistics Park at the intersection of Taiyuan and Jinzhong cities as the center. 

In addition, Shanxi will encourage local logistics companies to establish overseas business agencies, reducing the logistics costs of and diversifying the products being loaded by China Railway Express cargo trains to Europe and Asia.