Yangquan city launches its first freight train to Darhan in Mongolia on June 20, 2021. [Photo/Yellow River News]

The city of Yangquan in North China's Shanxi province recently launched its international freight train this year. 

The train, carrying 58 metric tons of furniture, departed Yangquan for Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia, on March 11.

According to Wang Jinliang, the person in charge at Jindong Logistics Co, the delivery was from a furniture manufacturer in East China's Shandong province. The furniture company only needs to provide the consignee, arrival station, name of the goods, and time of arrival. The other links are handled by Jindong Logistics Co.

In 2021, Yangquan made use of its strategic location, capital and functionality to promote international railway transportation.

China Railway Express Co and Yangquan jointly established Jindong Logistics Co, which transported three batches of goods and local refractory goods worth more than 6 million yuan ($942,915.24) abroad from June to August last year, promoting the development of an export-oriented economy in Yangquan. 

The 13th Yangquan Municipal Congress of the Communist Party of China held in September 2021 proposed that the international intermodal trains from Yangquan to Mongolia should be operated on a regular basis, and Yangquan's advantageous and characteristic products should be supported in entering the market in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

"The launch of international railway transport has built a bridge for economic ties and cultural exchange between enterprises in Yangquan and other countries and promoted Yangquan specialties to the world," said Wang.

It will also improve the utilization rate of freight vehicles in Yangquan, effectively reduce transportation costs, and increase economic revenue, he added.

Next, Jindong Logistics Co will adopt the international intermodal rail freight business from provinces and cities in East China while regularly exporting Yangquan products, so as to help the city develop into a railway logistics hub that serves the whole country and links Europe and Asia.