China's national railway network shipped 1.67 billion tons of cargo from January to May in 2026, up 1.8 percent year-on-year, with single-day loading volume reaching a record high, the country's railway operator said Sunday.
The daily loading volume was averaged at 186,300 cars, up 2.8 percent from the same period last year, according to the latest data released by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway).
On May 2, a single-day loading record was set with 202,400 cars, China Railway said.
Transportation of key materials remained strong and well-supported. Last month, railway departments opened green channels for fertilizers to ensure timely deliveries and avoid disruptions to farming activities.
"During the summer planting season, our station has established close daily communication mechanisms with fertilizer enterprises. We have made detailed measures on boxcar resources, vehicle turnover, and train operations to achieve faster loading and transport, ensuring fertilizers reach farmlands in a timely manner," said Shi Xi, an official of Zhijiang Railway Station of China Railway Wuhan Group.
From January to May, national railways transported 48.81 million tons of grain, up 11.9 percent year on year.
Meanwhile, 870 million tons of coal were delivered to ensure coal supplies for the peak summer electricity demand period.
China's railway cargo transportation volume increases in January-May period
U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that Israel's attack on Beirut "should not have happened," while the Israeli military said it will continue its operations in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that the Israeli military struck Hezbollah targets in southern Beirut's Dahieh suburb on Sunday, in response to firing into Israeli territory.
Meanwhile, Lebanese media reported an Israeli airstrike targeted a building in the Ghobeiri area in Beirut's southern suburbs.
The strike drew criticism from Trump, who said a regional peace deal, including Lebanon, was "very close" and urged all parties, especially Israel, to stand down.
"We are very close to a deal that will bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon, and all sides should stand down," he wrote on Truth Social.
"This morning's attack on Beirut should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran," he wrote.
Israel's Sunday strikes should not disrupt the diplomacy efforts for a U.S.-Iran peace deal, Trump said.
"There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel," the U.S. president added.
On the same day, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir, during his inspection of the Northern Command, said Israeli forces will continue military operations in Lebanon in an effort to secure more favorable terms in future U.S.-mediated negotiations between the two sides.
Zamir said the IDF's operations in key areas such as the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon were crucial, and that Israeli forces will continue their offensive and deepen their ground advance in necessary areas to eliminate security threats posed by Hezbollah.
He added that the IDF remains on high alert for potential developments on other fronts.
Trump says Israeli strike on Beirut should not have happened; Israel says it will continue Lebanon operations
