The railway port of Erenhot, the largest land port on the China-Mongolia border, handled the 1,000th China-Europe freight train of this year on Saturday afternoon, two days sooner than last year, according to local customs.
Located in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Erenhot Port is the first Chinese port on the China-Mongolia border that offers round-the-clock passage for freight transporters.
The Erenhot Railway Port is at the heart of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, with 72 routes being operated, covering more than 60 cities across 24 provinces in China, and reaching over 70 hub ports in more than 10 European countries including Germany, Poland and Russia.
Since the first China-Europe freight train passed through the port in 2013, it has handled a total of 18,000 such trains. Through scientific scheduling, precise loading, and efficient collaboration, the port has ensured smooth and seamless flows of inbound and outbound operation this year.
In the first quarter, the average transit time at the Erenhot Railway Port was reduced by 19.7 hours year on year, and cargo operation time by 10.2 hours.
A total of 995,600 tons of goods and 91,700 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were transported via China-Europe freight trains passing through the port in the first three months of the year.
Erenhot handles 1,000 China-Europe freight trains sooner
Hamas announced on Saturday the start of its meetings in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, with Palestinian factions and mediators to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the future of the Gaza Strip.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told reporters that the meetings aim to complete what was agreed upon in the first phase, including halting "Israeli aggression and escalation, assassinations, opening the crossings, and allowing the entry of the National Committee."
Discussions will then move to seek reasonable and acceptable approaches for all parties regarding the second phase, whether it involves the entry of international forces or the Gaza technocratic committee into the enclave, or addressing the issue of Palestinian weapons, Qassem added.
He said that Hamas prioritizes the Palestinian people's interest and seeks to "remove any pretexts for Israel to resume war on the Gaza Strip."
A Hamas delegation led by its leader in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, along with other faction representatives, arrived in Cairo on Friday for the multi-day talks.
These developments come as the fragile October 2025 ceasefire between Hamas and Israel falters, with key provisions, including disarmament and reconstruction, yet to be implemented.
The first phase of the ceasefire included an exchange of prisoners and detainees, the entry of humanitarian aid into the strip, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from some areas.
The United States announced in mid-January the start of the second phase of the ceasefire, which includes a complete Israeli military withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, reconstruction, and the establishment of a transitional governing body in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas says Cairo talks begin to discuss Gaza ceasefire implementation
