Customs in Lanzhou, the capital city of northwest China's Gansu Province, have significantly enhanced cross-border trade efficiency by streamlining customs clearance procedures and introducing the JSQ freight train, a special locomotive model dedicated to the transportation of automobiles.
Unlike traditional container trains, exported vehicles can drive directly into the JSQ carriages without the need for racks. Each carriage can accommodate 10 vehicles, leading to a 50 percent increase in overall transport capacity.
Cross-border train transit efficiency is further boosted by programs that promote faster customs clearance.
"Lanzhou Customs has established a 'green channel,' enabling export goods to be loaded onto trains in just two hours after arrival, significantly shortening the customs clearance time. Since the first JSQ train was launched in October 2024, a total of 41 JSQ trains have been dispatched, transporting 11,407 exported vehicles with a value of 1.239 billion yuan (about 170 million U.S. dollars)," said Wang Hongliang, chief of Jincheng Customs under Lanzhou Customs.
Lanzhou has also strengthened its air freight network by launching international cargo flight routes connecting the city with Moscow, Russia and Almaty, Kazakhstan.
In 2024, the cargo throughput at Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport reached 4,864.5 tons, with the total value of imports and exports amounting to 1.4 billion yuan (about 190 million U.S. dollars), marking year-on-year increases of 100 percent and 69 percent respectively.
Lanzhou customs streamlines procedures, introduces automobile-moving trains
Airstrikes and explosions continued on Sunday, the 23rd day of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, as Iran has warned of broader retaliation if U.S. targets its power facilities.
Explosions were heard in eastern and western Tehran on Sunday night, according to a China Media Group reporter. Footage from the reporter showed that Tehran's air defense system was continuously activating to intercept incoming projectiles.
The reporter also said that the sound of the air defense system in operation was heard in northeastern Tehran on Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday, Iran's primary military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued a statement warning that power plants in countries hosting U.S. bases would be considered legitimate targets if the United States attacks Iran's power facilities.
The statement came in response to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to target Iran's power infrastructure, according to Iranian state media Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
Trump threatened on Saturday to "hit and obliterate" Iranian power plants if the country fails to fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
The Strait of Hormuz has not been fully closed and remains under Iran's "smart control," with non-harmful transit continuing under specific regulations to ensure national security and interests, the statement from Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said.
If U.S. threats are carried out, Iran would immediately adopt several punitive measures, including the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz until damaged Iranian facilities are rebuilt, it said.
Other measures would include large-scale strikes on Israel's power, energy and communications infrastructure, attacks on regional companies with U.S. capital ties, and targeting power facilities in countries hosting U.S. military bases, the statement said, adding that Iran would take "all necessary measures" to defend its national interests.
On Sunday, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said the Strait of Hormuz is open to all "except those who violate Iran's territory."
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that the Israeli military struck Iranian weapons production and storage facilities.
Iran warns of broader retaliation if U.S. targets its power facilities
