As the largest inland port and a key hub for the cross-border China-Europe freight train transport service in north China's Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Shijiazhuang International Land Port in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province, boosts foreign trade by leveraging the convenient logistics channels available in the city and optimizing rail efficiency.
BigBuy, a Spanish cross-border e-commerce platform, established its China operation headquarters in Shijiazhuang in March this year, attracted by the availability of convenient logistics channels in this city.
"Over 80 percent of the goods on our platform are from China. We highly value the services of the Shijiazhuang International Land Port, as it serves as a crucial gateway for our Chinese goods to reach Europe," said Sun Xiaobo, Chief Operating Officer of BigBuy's China operation headquarters.
The Shijiazhuang International Land Port has achieved regular operations for China-Europe freight train transport service, with 18 routes linking eight border ports and reaching over 50 other countries and regions across Eurasia.
In the first quarter of this year, the land port handled a total of 302 trips with the shipment of 32,122 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), marking a 239 percent and 230 percent year-on-year increase, respectively.
"Next, we will accelerate the construction of the Shijiazhuang China-Europe Express Railway Assembly Center, expand China-Europe freight train services, actively develop intermodal transport, establish new international routes, and continuously improve port functions and basic supporting facilities. These efforts aim to better serve the export of products from characteristic industrial clusters at the provincial and municipal levels, reduce logistics costs for customers, and drive the development of the region's outward-oriented economy," said Han Yingzhao, deputy general manager of the Hebei Land Port Group.
International land port in north China's Hebei boosts foreign trade with cross-border freight train service
The three astronauts of China's recently-returned Shenzhou-20 mission on Friday shared the experiences of their dramatic 204-day space mission, including detailing the emergency procedures which were implemented to bring them safely home after their return capsule was struck by space debris.
The trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie -- met with the press in Beijing on Friday afternoon, marking their first public appearance since returning to Earth in November.
When detailing the emergency response mechanisms which were enacted prior to their scheduled return, the astronauts explained that upon discovering a triangular crack on the spacecraft's viewport window, they immediately took photos for documentation and transmitted them to the ground team, who swiftly activated an emergency plan to get the trio home safely.
Experienced mission commander Chen Dong explained how the crew had complete faith in their colleagues on the ground to find a solution to these unforeseen circumstances which led to their return being delayed.
"First, we must trust the ground team, who would anticipate everything and develop the safest return plan for us. Second, we must believe in ourselves; as well-trained astronauts, we have the ability to manage various unexpected failures. I believe that with the collaboration of astronauts and researchers on the ground, our space home will surely go farther, more steadily, and for a longer time," he said.
Following their extended stay in space as a result of the debris incident, the Shenzhou-20 crew spent a total 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest duration by a single group of Chinese astronauts.
During their mission, they completed multiple payload operations, conducted extensive scientific experiments, and carried out four extravehicular activities.
"Our crew worked together with the ground team in unity and coordination, completing four extravehicular activities, several payload entry and exit tasks, and a large number of scientific experiments. It was a fulfilling yet challenging mission. The path to exploring the heavens is long and arduous, but I firmly believe that China's space missions will succeed," said Chen Zhongrui, a former air force pilot who was making his first spaceflight during the mission.
"From the ground to space, from learning to application, I have deeply felt the solid progress of Chinese space endeavors and the quiet dedication of countless personnel behind the scenes. In the future, I will accomplish each mission with full commitment, living up to the trust of the motherland and the people," said fellow astronaut Wang Jie, who was also making his debut spaceflight.
After returning to Earth on Nov 14, the trio successfully completed their isolation recovery and rehabilitation and will now resume normal training following health assessments.
The crew's return, originally scheduled for Nov 5, was postponed due to safety concerns, with the astronauts later using the return capsule belonging to their successor crew of the Shenzhou-21 mission to get back to Earth. China later launched the unmanned Shenzhou-22 spacecraft which will serve the future return of the crew now aboard the Tiangong Space Station.
Shenzhou-20 astronauts share experiences after safely returning from debris incident
