The first China-Europe freight train (Xi'an) of 2025 departed from Xi'an Guogang Railway Station at exactly midnight on Jan 1, marking a vibrant start to the new year.

The first China-Europe freight train (Xi'an) of 2025 departs from Xi'an Guogang Railway Station on Jan 1, bound for Tashkent, Uzbekistan. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

The train, bound for Tashkent, Uzbekistan, carried 50 containers loaded with home appliances, textiles, and chemical products. Covering approximately 4,667 kilometers in just five days, this new rapid service was jointly developed by Xi'an Chanba International Port and Kazakhstan Railways.

"The journey will be reduced from eight to 10 days to five to six days, improving efficiency by over 40 percent," said Yuan Xiaojun, general manager of Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Company.

Utilizing this enhanced logistics channel, products like electric vehicles, solar panels, and home appliances continue to strengthen China's exports to Central Asia, while key imports such as grains and minerals from the region flow steadily into China.

In 2024 alone, 69,655 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were shipped via the Xi'an-Central Asia route, a 49.8-percent increase year-on-year.

Xi'an Chanba International Port is also collaborating with Zhejiang Seaport to build a data-sharing platform, fostering joint development and efficient connectivity. Strengthened partnerships with rail companies from Kazakhstan, Russia, and Azerbaijan are aimed at optimizing China-Europe train services, furthering Xi'an's integration into the Belt and Road Initiative.