North China city launches first China-Europe freight train

SHIJIAZHUANG -- The city of Langfang in North China's Hebei province saw its first China-Europe freight train leave the station Saturday.

The freight train, carrying 55 40-foot containers, will complete a journey of 7,800 kilometers. It will leave the country via Erenhot Port in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, pass through Mongolia and finally arrive at its destination in Moscow 17 days later.

The goods, with a total value of nearly 20 million yuan (about $2.88 million), mainly include light industrial products, food, clothing and daily necessities, which are from local companies in Langfang, and import and export companies in surrounding areas.

The freight train service is of great significance to further promoting the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and integrating into the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, according to the city's development and reform commission.