Staff members from Zengcheng Customs inspect containers. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

A China-Europe freight train departed from Guangzhou's Zengcheng West Railway Station on July 1 and, after crossing the border at Horgos in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, it will arrive in Duisburg, Germany in 17 days.

The journey marks the launch of a new China-Europe freight route running between Guangzhou's Zengcheng and Duisburg via Horgos, further expanding the cargo transport options between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Europe. 

A total of 51 containers weighing around 419 metric tons were loaded onto the train, containing cargos such as toys, bicycle frames and printers. The total value of these cargos reached about 31 million yuan ($5 million).

"Railway transport, especially the China-Europe freight trains, has been an ideal choice for domestic companies to expand international markets, considering the impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic such as the high price of marine transport," said Xian Chengjia, a staff member from Sinotrans South China Limited.

Zhang Chong, director of Zengcheng Customs, said that China-Europe freight trains have become a major logistics channel for ensuring China-Europe trade exchanges and facilitating global supply chains, as it has unique advantages in areas such as efficiency and a rich variety of routes.

Local customs have taken an active role in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative to optimize the business environment. They've been helping companies make use of Zengcheng West Railway Station, which is now a combined highway-railway cargo transport hub in the Greater Bay Area. 

Measures including moving procedures such as declaration and examination online have been taken to increase clearance efficiency.