The multimodal transport center of the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) in China's eastern coastal city of Qingdao has evolved into a pivotal hub for international trade, seamlessly integrating sea, road, air and rail transport.
So far, the multimodal transport center has rolled out cross-border trains directly connecting with more than 20 cities in SCO member countries. With six to 10 trains arriving and departing daily, the center handles up to 2,000 containers in a single day.
Innovatively employing a one-stop multimodal transport model, it integrates customs supervision, port dispatch, and railway transportation systems, enabling seamless transfer of sea containers to railways and zero waiting time for transit goods.
Cross-border logistics efficiency has significantly improved, with a 55.4 percent year-on-year increase in transit container volume in 2024.
"Containers transported over an 80-kilometer distance between ports can achieve same-day turnover, thereby boosting logistics efficiency for businesses by over 20 percent and reducing costs by 15 percent," said Liu Tao, deputy head of the Huangdao station under China Railway Jinan Group.
At the transport center, goods from Japan and South Korea can quickly access the China-Europe freight train network through Shandong ports, reaching Europe in the west. European goods can also be redistributed to Japan and South Korea, establishing a two-way circulation trade pattern.
"In the first five months of this year, around 23,000 TEUs of goods were dispatched via the land-sea express line to Japan and South Korea, doubling the volume of the same period last year," said Zhang Peng, general manager of Shandong Hi-Speed Qiluhao Investment Development Co., Ltd.
Shandong has currently opened over 70 China-Europe rail-sea intermodal routes, with transport chains covering more than 180 countries across five continents globally. In 2024, the rail-sea intermodal volume surpassed 4.2 million TEUs.
"Next, we will focus on advancing the construction of the China-Europe freight train assembly center, expanding the SCO international logistics main channel, establishing a "gateway" for Chinese enterprises to SCO countries, ensuring the regular operation of international transport corridors across the Caspian Sea, and refining mechanisms for cross-regional consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, " said Guo Xiaozhong, deputy director of the SCODA management committee.
Multimodal transport center accelerates building of global transport network
