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
European countries have broadly welcomed a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
After about 40 days of deadly clashes, the U.S. and Iran on Wednesday agreed to pause the fighting and begin a new round of peace talks in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, on Friday.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday announced that the German government will resume direct talks with Iran to support the newly agreed ceasefire.
During a press conference in Berlin, Merz stated that a window of opportunity for a negotiated solution has opened for the first time since the outbreak of the conflict, though he cautioned that the situation in the Middle East remains "fragile."
Merz confirmed he had held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, urging the U.S. leader to pursue the negotiations seriously. He also said that Germany would contribute in an appropriate manner to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
During a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker congratulated Pakistan for facilitating the ceasefire.
Both leaders stressed the importance of ensuring that the ceasefire be upheld by all sides, thereby strengthening the prospects of successful negotiations that could bring lasting peace and stability to the region and beyond.
Austria fully supports a diplomatic solution to end the war, Stocker said on X, adding that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law must be ensured.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Thursday also thanked Pakistan and all those involved for their continued work on the negotiations, adding that Britain will continue to work internationally to support the ceasefire, to promote progress on negotiations, and to restore and protect security and stability for the region, and freedom of navigation for the world.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze also welcomed the ceasefire and expressed their hope for lasting peace and stability in the region.
Europe welcomes U.S.-Iran truce, urges diplomatic solution
