China launches freight trains on new route to Uzbekistan

The eastern regions of China and Central Asia were connected by a new freight train, Spot reported referring to China Daily.

The first train departed from Wuxi West Station in Jiangsu Province on August 13. According to the local administration, the train is carrying 1,000 tons of goods - auto parts, household appliances, etc. Their total value is 30 million yuan ($4.4 million).

The train route runs through almost all of China. It will arrive in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in 20 days, which is about twice as fast as sending goods by sea.

Wuxi Station Logistics Park employees noted the difficulties of local exporters with the supply of products after the start of COVID-19 pandemic. The new freight rail route creates new opportunities for the region’s producers.

In February, Uztemiryulkonteyner, together with Russian partners, organized the first container train from China. The train brought 70 containers of consumer goods from Qingdao to Tashkent.

Prior to this, UTI Transit and the Russian RZD Logistics created a JV, RZDL Transservice Group. Among other things, the company is engaged in the transit of goods from China to Uzbekistan through Kazakhstan. In the future, it will organize transportation to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Earlier, it was reported that signing an agreement on construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is expected at the September SCO summit.