ISLAMABAD (PEN) : An ASEAN Express train departed from southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality for Malaszewicze, Poland, on Friday morning, marking the launch of a fast-track Asia-Europe trade route.
The train, carrying automotive electronic components and other goods, left Chongqing’s Tuanjiecun Station around 5 a.m. and is expected to reach its destination in roughly two weeks. It originally began its journey from Hanoi, Vietnam, on October 15, before arriving in Chongqing for reconfiguration.
This first ASEAN Express from Chongqing signifies a seamless link between the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the China-Europe freight train service, two major international trade routes. The entire journey, starting from Vietnam, will take approximately 25 days, cutting transit time by five to 10 days compared to previous Asia-Europe transport routes.
The express is jointly operated by Yuxinou (Chongqing) Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. and New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co., Ltd., enhancing transit speed and streamlining services for faster customs clearance, according to Liu Taiping, Yuxinou’s general manager.
Traditionally, ASEAN-to-Europe freight relied heavily on maritime shipping. “Previously, transporting ASEAN goods to Europe by rail required two separate transport routes and platforms, resulting in complex procedures and longer transit times,” said He Daoguo, general manager of Chongqing Meilian International Warehouse & Transport, which supports global clients in sectors such as automotive parts, electronics and chemicals. “This new collaboration reduces logistics costs by approximately 15 percent,” he added.
“The ASEAN Express effectively connects key trade routes, positioning Chongqing as a vital inland hub for the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),” said Ding Yao, head of the Chongqing Academy of Economics Research. Ding added that this connection will further facilitate trade and cultural exchanges between BRI countries, stabilize global industrial and supply chains, and drive high-quality cooperation within the initiative.
With its hub in Chongqing, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor links global ports via railways, sea routes and highways through southern and southwestern China, including Guangxi and Yunnan. As of August 2024, this corridor had expanded to 523 ports across 124 countries and regions.
The China-Europe freight train service, a logistics link between Asia and Europe launched in 2011, has seen rapid growth, particularly since the BRI’s implementation.