100,000th China-Europe freight train trip reaches Germany's Duisburg

China

100,000th China-Europe freight train trip reaches Germany's Duisburg

2024-12-04 16:53 Last Updated At：23:27

The 100,000th trip of China-Europe freight train arrived in Duisburg, Germany on Tuesday morning, marking a historic milestone for this 13-year-old cross-continental artery.

The train, which had departed from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, arrived at Duisburg, Germany's largest inland shipping hub, at 9:10, carrying electronics, industrial parts, and household appliances.

The cargo was quickly unloaded for distribution to various destinations across Europe.

At the celebration, Markus Teuber, China affairs commissioner of the City of Duisburg, emphasized that the China-Europe freight train service has brought significant development opportunities to Duisburg, strengthening economic ties and cultural exchange between Germany and China.

Markus Bangen, CEO of Duisburger Hafen AG (Duisport), noted that Sino-German cooperation has expanded beyond traditional logistics to include port infrastructure and storage services, expressing optimism for further collaboration.

"The China-Europe freight train has connected key regions in China, Europe, and Duisburg, allowing us to reach major production hubs in China more efficiently. We believe more opportunities will arise in the future, with additional regions being included in the service," Bangen said.

The first China-Europe freight train set off from Chongqing for Duisburg in March 2011. On Nov 15, 2024, the 100,000th train service made the same journey, representing a historic moment.

Today, Duisburg has become a vital hub for the China-Europe freight train network in Western Europe, with the most extensive routes, the highest frequency, and the largest cargo volumes and value.

Film IP fuels expansion of consumer market

China's movie industry is increasingly deriving its earnings from broader consumer economy.

Released during the 2025 summer season, the film "Nobody" became China's highest-grossing two-dimensional animated film -- and its success went beyond theaters.

Through licensing and brand partnerships, the movie has generated 2.5 billion yuan (about 358.3 million U.S. dollars) in retail sales to consumers, with more than 800 licensed products on the market.

Ranging from plush toys to food and home goods, the movie-related merchandise can be purchased from over 3,000 online and offline outlets.

Meanwhile, souvenir stores are crowded at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia themed land, with hats, plush toys, and collectibles seeing steady demand from visitors.

"China's film industry is no longer defined by box office revenue alone. It has become a new growth engine that links and energizes multiple cultural sectors. At the heart of every successful film is strong storytelling. High-quality productions create cultural value, which in turn enhances the commercial value of intellectual property and opens up new consumption opportunities. I believe China's film industry delivered an outstanding performance in the past year," said Chen Xiaoda, vice dean of Shanghai Vancouver Film School.