China-Europe train traffic soars in Qingdao SCO zone
China DailyCustoms officers inspect a China-Europe freight train in Qingdao, Shandong province. The total number of China-Europe freight train trips operated by a multimodal transport center in Qingdao, Shandong province, in the first 11 months of this year rose by 33.4 percent year-on-year to 699, playing a significant role in stabilizing supply chains and foreign trade, said local customs officers. The China-SCO demonstration zone, approved by the central government, is designed to create a better platform for international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, and develop collaborations in logistics, trade, investment, tourism and culture. "Compared with other modes of transport, the China-Europe freight train allows foreign consumer goods to reach domestic consumers faster and at a more affordable price," said a manager of a cross-border e-commerce enterprise located in the China-SCO demonstration zone. According to local customs, the stable and highly efficient China-Europe freight train service has contributed to expansion of foreign trade and exploration of international markets.