China opens up wider in 2021 (4)

A China-Europe freight train leaves Xi'an International Trade and Logistics Park in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on April 13, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

China-Europe freight trips boom

China-Europe freight train trips saw a steady increase in the first 11 months of 2021. The number of China-Europe freight train trips hit 13,817 in the January-November period, surging 23 percent year-on-year.

During this period, freight trains handled a total of 1.33 million 20-foot equivalent units of goods, up 30 percent from a year ago.

In November alone, the number of China-Europe freight train trips rose 1 percent year-on-year to 1,246, exceeding 1,000 for a 19th consecutive month.

In December the China-Laos Railway, a landmark project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, started operations.

The electrified passenger and freight railway runs 1,035 km, including 422 km in Laos, from the city of Kunming in Southwest China's Yunnan province, to the Lao capital Vientiane.