Liangjiang launches trains to Central and Southeast Asia

The Chongqing-Central Asia train departs from Yuzui Railway Freight Station in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area. [Photo/WeChat account of Liangjiang New Area]

Two international freight trains departed from the Yuzui Railway Freight Station in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area on Dec 15, coinciding with the China-Singapore Bilateral Cooperation Mechanism Meetings.

These trains, part of the China-Singapore Multimodal Demonstration Project, are designed to integrate with the China-Europe Railway Express and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, establishing a crucial trade link between western China, ASEAN, and Eurasia.

The westbound train will travel to Kazakhstan via Alashankou Port, while the southbound train will reach Singapore via Qinzhou in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region through combined rail-sea transport.

The Chongqing-Central Asia train is transporting 45 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of automotive knock-down kits, valued at approximately $1.55 million, while the Chongqing-Southeast Asia train is carrying 40 TEUs of chemical products, valued at roughly $700,000.

The project, a significant outcome of the China-Singapore Bilateral Cooperation Mechanism Meetings, was initiated in 2017, with the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Multimodal Transport Demonstration Base becoming operational in 2022.

The Xinjiang Wusu Logistics Transfer Hub on the Central Asia route began operations in October, further enhancing the project’s efficiency and reach.

This year also marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore and the 10th anniversary of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity.

As the third government-to-government cooperation project between China and Singapore, the initiative has focused on connectivity and the modern service economy, resulting in 347 signed cooperation projects worth $26 billion and the pioneering of 33 institutional innovations.