Photo shows the freight train bound for Duisburg of Germany in Tuanjie Village of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

 
Thirteen years since the China-Europe Railway Express (CRE), a crucial link in international logistics, began operations in Duisburg, the German city's profile as a key hub on the railway has been steadily rising.

During a recent visit by Xinhua reporters, bustling terminals, ports, and warehouses in Duisburg highlighted the city's growing vitality. The CRE has significantly impacted the local business community.

At one of Duisburg's central logistics centers, AUKLogis GmbH, a German subsidiary of the Chinese logistics company Western Post, provides storage and customs clearance services for clients using CRE services. The company has witnessed a shift in local traders' perceptions of the service, from initial skepticism to recognition, resulting in long-term partnerships.

"Our clients often highlight the railway's speed and reliability, which are unmatched by other freight methods," said Fan Yuliang, warehouse manager of AUKLogis GmbH. As the routes expand and improve, trust in the service has continued to grow.

Daniele Materazzo, an operator in the outbound group for China-Europe Railway Express at AUKLogis, told Xinhua that he now receives better pay and feels a sense of stability working with the company. "Despite our language and cultural differences, we support each other as a team. I feel completely at home here," he said.

Markus Bangen, CEO of Duisburger Hafen AG (Duisport), noted that the railway is strengthening ties between Europe and China, opening up a new international transport market that benefits both economies. Duisburg's profile is steadily growing as a key stop on the railway, attracting investment, creating job opportunities, and driving growth in the logistics sector, he added.

In August, a direct route from Chongqing to Duisburg, traversing the Caspian Sea, was put into operation. The route provides a new option for transportation along the so-called Middle Corridor, a trade link between China and Europe that passes through several central Asian and southern Caucasian countries.

Bangen said that since the participants facilitating the Middle Corridor are familiar with CRE operations, the experience gained over the past decade will significantly accelerate the corridor's development.

While enabling faster and more cost-effective delivery of goods from China to Europe, CRE has also opened new trade pathways for European manufacturers and traders aiming to enter the Chinese market, Chinese Consul General in Dusseldorf Du Chunguo told Xinhua. "This exchange has significantly improved consumer welfare and created jobs along the route."