A new freight train loaded with polyester chips departed from Chongqing in southwest China on Sunday morning, marking the launch of a regular cargo route to Uzbekistan. This train, the first of its kind on this route, is expected to cover approximately 4,700 kilometers and arrive in the Uzbek capital in about 12 days.
The train will exit China through the Horgos Port in Xinjiang, passing through Kazakhstan before reaching Uzbekistan. With two trains scheduled to depart each month, this new route is set to boost trade between China and Central Asian countries.
“These regular services help ensure faster customs clearance, timely transportation, and reduced costs,” said Xu Meiqiong, an engineer with China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd. “They significantly improve the overall quality of cross-border logistics.”
The new route is estimated to reduce transportation time between Chongqing and Central Asia by 30 percent. For companies like Chongqing Wankai New Materials Technology Co., Ltd., which supplied the cargo on Sunday’s train, this is a game-changer. “The launch of the new route will support our efforts to expand into the Central Asian market,” said Lin Zheng, the company’s logistics manager.
In recent years, Chongqing has been striving to become a comprehensive inland transport hub. The number of freight trains departing from the city to Europe and Central Asia has been growing steadily, along with the volume of cargo they carry. As of February, more than 18,000 trains covering over 50 regular routes linking Chongqing with countries across Asia and Europe have been dispatched, reaching over 100 hub cities and regions.
