The first train of the "Zheng He" Sea-Road-Rail International Multimodal Transport Service with rapid customs clearance departed from Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, on Friday, further advancing the region's high-level opening-up.
The freight train, loaded with 49 containers, left Kunming's Tengjun International Land Port after completing one-stop customs clearance. It will exit China via the Mohan Port on the China-Laos border without requiring any further customs procedures.
The new service is expected to strengthen the international logistics network in southwest China and enhance the region's high-level opening-up toward South and Southeast Asia, according to local authorities.
The multimodal service is named after Chinese explorer Zheng He (1371-1433), who, over an extraordinary span of 28 years, embarked on seven epic voyages and commanded a fleet that reached distant shores as far as Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and even East Africa.
1st 'Zheng He' multimodal freight train with rapid clearance service departs from China's Yunnan
The ongoing 140th Canton Fair in south China's Guangzhou City is showcasing innovative and cutting-edge products to meet global demand, highlighting China's advances in high-end manufacturing.
The 140th China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, opened on Thursday with record shares of new and green products among its exhibits.
Rather than focusing solely on standard products, this edition's exhibitors are placing greater emphasis on customized offerings, drawing directly on buyer feedback to better match the needs of overseas markets.
"The Canton Fair serves as a window for our company to the global market. Being on site helps us understand the specific needs of different countries and regions. For instance, clients from the Middle East told us about the severe water shortages they face at home, which prompted us to adjust our products accordingly. Deals reached at the Canton Fair now account for roughly 30 percent of our total orders from the Middle East," said exhibitor Huang Jian.
The first phase of the fair, themed "Advanced Manufacturing," features over 12,000 exhibitors, showcasing electronics, household appliances and industrial automation. It also focuses on new energy, intelligent manufacturing and embodied intelligence, with 17 zones dedicated to emerging and future industries, including service robots, drones and display technologies.
"At the 140th Canton Fair, the Machinery and Electronics zone accounts for over 80 percent of all booths in the first phase. Intelligence, green, and integrated solutions have emerged as the new trend for Chinese machinery and electronics going global, with AI and green technology becoming new drivers of growth. For overseas buyers, attending the Canton Fair is no longer just about purchasing products. They come here to uncover emerging industry trends and seek long-term collaboration partnerships," said Shi Yonghong, vice president of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products.
The 140th Canton Fair runs in three phases in Guangzhou from Oct. 15 to Nov. 4.
Over the past 70 years, the Canton Fair has grown into China's largest and longest-running international trade event, with the most complete product range, the largest number of buyers and the highest transaction volume.
Advanced manufacturing products sought after by global buyers at Canton Fair
