PR95556

CHENGDU, China, April 20, 2022 /Xinhua=KYODO JBN/--

On April 18, a departure ceremony was held at Chengdu (Shuangliu) Air-rail

International Intermodal Port for the first cross-border special freight train

from Shuangliu, Chengdu to Hanoi, Vietnam. After setting out from Shuangliu,

the train will cross the border at the Pingxiang Railway Port, and travel

southwards along the China-Vietnam Railway for 5 to 7 days before arriving at

Hanoi, Vietnam.

This train signifies that a new logistics channel for economic and trade has

been opened up between Shuangliu, Chengdu, which is an important gateway in

southwest China, and ASEAN.

Shuangliu has always been an important hub in western China. In March this

year, Shuangliu opened the first international digital trade train along the

China-Laos Railway; in April, a new land-sea channel train was launched,

connecting Chengdu (Shuangliu) Air-rail International Intermodal Port with

major surrounding cities.

The Air-rail International Intermodal Port has led to closer trade ties between

Chengdu and ASEAN countries. The first cross-border special freight train

carries 40 containers fully loaded with around 32-million-yuan worth of

aluminum profiles manufactured by a local company based in Shuangliu. After

being packaged at the doorstep of the local company, goods can be directly

delivered to clients after the train moves across the border at the Pingxiang

Railway Port.

The CFO of the company said, "We used to export goods to Vietnam by automobile

transport. This is the first time we use rail transport." This new way of

delivering goods is expected to save 20% of freight costs and 30% of time for

customers in Vietnam.

In addition to the customized special freight train, public trains are also

steadily available at Chengdu (Shuangliu) Air-rail International Intermodal

Port.

Since it was put into operation last year, Chengdu (Shuangliu) Air-rail

International Intermodal Port has successively opened multiple new rail lines

to Vientiane, Laos via Mohan Port, or Port of Manila, Philippines via Qinzhou

Port. These new lines are designed to help local companies leverage the global

supply chain to procure materials, and produce and sell goods. As of now, a

total of 52 international trains have set out from the port. These trains have

shipped 1,937 TEUs of containers, with the value of imports and exports

reaching 320 million yuan in total.

Source: Chengdu (Shuangliu) Air-rail International Intermodal Port