Xinjiang's Alashankou port handles 7,684 China-Europe trains in 2024

Xinjiang's Alashankou Port handled 7,684 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight train services in 2024, setting a record high and registering a 15.8 percent year-on-year increase, according to latest report form the railway department.

The port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region saw off the region's first China-Europe freight train of 2025 just 20 minutes after the new year arrived.

The train fully loaded with daily necessities, machinery and auto parts left on Wednesday, heading to Małaszewicze of Poland.

Alashankou Railway Port has seen an over 15 percent increase in its capacity for broad-gauge and standard-gauge freight train operations over the same period last year.

In 2024, the port has added eight new freight train routes, with a record of 29 trains passing through in a single day.

"The average number of trains passing through the port every day is 21. We're tracking the traffic flow in real time, with attention paid to ensure seamless connection of operation links such as bill circulation, pick-up and delivery of coaches and cargo loading. Those efforts are made to well organize the inbound and outbound China-Europe freight trains and improve the overall traffic efficiency at the port," said Yan Huapeng, director of the operation workshop of Alashankou Railway Station, China Railway Urumqi Group.

To further improve the efficiency of cross-border freight services, customs authority at Alashankou has set a special window for these services, offering around-the-clock green channel. The customs authority regularly reviews the entire clearance process and refines operational protocols for each stage to ensure smooth coordination.

At present, a total of 123 China-Europe freight train routes pass through Alashankou Port, transporting more than 200 kinds of goods, including complete vehicles, engineering equipment and other high value-added items, to 21 countries and regions in Europe and Asia.

Alashankou is China's important westbound port and the closest railway port to the European Union. The steady growth of China-Europe freight train services in terms of scale provides strong logistic support to the trade between China and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries.

Xinjiang's Alashankou port handles 7,684 China-Europe trains in 2024

Xinjiang's Alashankou port handles 7,684 China-Europe trains in 2024

A Vietnamese naval fleet arrived in Fangchenggang of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Monday, marking the start of the 10th border defense friendship exchange between China and Vietnam.

The event is set to take place in designated areas and ports in Guangxi of China and Vietnam's Quang Ninh province, as well as waters in the Beibu Gulf during this week.

At 09:00 on Monday, Vietnam's frigates Tran Hung Dao and Ly Thai slowly entered a port in Fangchenggang City. The Vietnamese officers and soldiers received warm welcome from Chinese counterparts of frigates Hengyang and Enshi.

After the welcome ceremony, the Vietnamese fleet commander boarded the Hengyang frigate for a tour, where the two sides held discussions and exchanged souvenirs.

In the coming days, the two sides will organize naval vessel visits, cultural and sports exchanges, and will also form a fleet for the 40th China-Vietnam joint patrols and training exercises in the Beibu Gulf.

They will also hold medical consultations and cultural events with civilians in the border areas.

The China-Vietnam border defense friendship exchange, first held in 2014, is a concrete measure to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two parties and countries.

The event will further enhance the traditional friendship between the two countries and their armed forces, strengthen exchanges and mutual trust among personnel at all levels, deepen practical cooperation, and improve their joint ability to safeguard border and related maritime security.

China, Vietnam start 10th border defense friendship exchange