A cargo train loaded with products made in Datong city departs Pingwang Railway Station in Datong city, in Shanxi province for Minsk, capital of Belarus, on May 28. [Photo/Datong Daily]

Datong city in North China's Shanxi province launched its first China Railway Express cargo train of the current year to Minsk, capital of Belarus, on May 28.

Loaded with over 10 kinds of products -- including medicine, cables and automobile parts weighing some 1,000 metric tons and worth 28.66 million yuan ($4.03 million) in 41 carriages -- the cargo train departed Pingwang Railway Station for its destination on the day. 

The entire journey via Saransk in Russia is expected to last around 18 days, about 20 days shorter than sea transportation. 

The rail transportation costs per standard container will also be 5,000 yuan less than that of sea transportation.

This will greatly help Datong companies improve their negotiations over contracts with overseas clients and lay a good foundation for local enterprises to expand into the European market, officials said.

Datong, at the access point of the China-Europe central railway passage, is an important comprehensive transportation and logistics hub in China and an important node city involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

To further integrate the city into the BRI development and give full play to its role as a national logistics hub, Datong city's government departments, railway departments, foreign trade and logistics companies in Shanxi jointly initiated the China Railway Express cargo train service this year.

Officials said that in future, cargo trains will carry more products manufactured from Datong and even Shanxi province to the outside world -- and open a broader and more convenient trade channel for "Made in Datong" and even "Made in Shanxi" products.

They said that in addition, the cargo train service to Europe and Central Asia will also bring advanced resources and technologies from countries involved in the BRI back to Datong and Shanxi.