A China-Europe freight train leaves Southwest China’s Chengdu International Railway Port in early July carrying a full load. Photos: cnsphoto

 
China-Europe freight train trips have witnessed robust growth, with the total number surging 32 percent year-on-year to over 10,000 by the end of August, an official said on Thursday.
 
Meng Wei, spokesperson for the National Development and Reform Commission, said that from January to August, a total of 10,052 freight trains were operated between China and Europe.
 
During the period, the freight trains carried approximately 967,000 20-foot equivalent unit containers of goods, growing 40 percent from the same period in 2020.
 
This was the sixteenth straight month that trips made by China-Europe freight trains exceeded 1,000, said Meng.
 
So far, the China-Europe freight trains traveling along 73 routes have reached more than 170 cities in 23 European countries. The train services also provided transport support for economic and social development in countries and regions along the Belt and Road.
 
In the face of the severe impact from the epidemic, the train continues to play a key role in stabilizing the international supply chain and helping international anti-epidemic cooperation, Meng said.