China launches cargo train to Germany

A Chinese cargo train from Zhengzhou in Central China on Thursday set off for Hamburg in Germany in a bid to boost bilateral trade, Chinese railway authorities said. The container train kicked off its journey from Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province and is set to pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, White Russia, Poland before reaching Germany, said the Zhengzhou Railways Bureau. It will travel a total distance of 10,214 km for 16 to 18 days. The service could shorten the length of time needed for cargo from Zhengzhou to Europe via sea by about 15 days. The first train carried 665 tons of goods such as tires, shoes, and clothes in 51 containers. The trade volume is worth $1.52 million, Xinhua news agency cited customs authorities in Zhengzhou. There will be six such trains to Hamburg this year, which are expected to realize more than $100 million of exports and imports. In 2014, the number of cargo trains from Zhengzhou to Hamburg will rise to 50, bringing trade volume of $1 billion.