A China-Europe freight train bound for Poland departed Horgos in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at 16:00 on Tuesday, coinciding with the port surpassing 6,700 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight train trips this year, a new milestone in cross-border trade.
Horgos Port, a major railway hub in Xinjiang, has seen steadily increasing traffic, averaging over 27 trains per day in 2025. The freight includes electronics, mechanical and electrical equipment, daily necessities, and agricultural produce, connecting Chinese manufacturers to markets across Central Asia and Europe.
Since the launch of the "Smart Railway Port + Local Rapid Customs Clearance" reform earlier this year, customs efficiency at Horgos has improved significantly. Import clearance time has been reduced from up to three days to less than 16 hours, while export processing time is cut from six hours to just one.
To date, 90 international freight train routes run through Horgos Port.
China-Europe freight trains hit 6,700 via Xinjiang's Horgos Port in 2025
The organizing committee of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games has unveiled the titles, creative visions, and first talents of the opening and closing ceremonies, as Thursday marked 50 days before the event officially gets underway.
Scheduled from March 6 to 15 across multiple Italian cities, the Games will bring together 665 athletes from 50 countries and regions to compete for 79 gold medals across six sporting disciplines.
The opening ceremony, titled "Life in Motion," will be staged at the historic Arena di Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, presenting a tribute to change and transformation that seeks to redefine disability through a new harmony between people and the environment.
"I paid close attention to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which I consider one of the three or four most beautiful in the history of Olympic ceremonies. This time at the ancient Arena di Verona, we will place greater emphasis on showcasing the human element," the ceremonies' artistic director Alfredo Accatino told a Chinese reporter at the event.
The closing ceremony, themed "Italian Souvenir," will be held on March 15 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, guiding athletes, volunteers, and fans through a journey that captures the emotions and memories of the Games after days of competition and achievement.
Craig Spence, the International Paralympic Committee's Chief Brand and Communications Officer, believes that Italy will deliver "the best Paralympic Games" following the benchmark set by the Beijing Winter Paralympics in 2022.
"I think what China did in Beijing has really set the benchmark for all future teams competing in the Paralympic Winter Games in terms of performance. That's why I think Milano-Cortina will be the best Paralympic Games we've ever seen for sports," he said.
Milano-Cortina Paralympics reveal opening, closing themes as Games draw near
