The New Silk Road acquired another direct connection between Shanxi in China and Paris in France. The very first train departed on 2 June, carrying 50 40-foot containers. It will travel through the Erenhot border-crossing and enter Europe after passing through Mongolia, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany. The whole journey will last over 20 days while the train will cross 11,000 kilometres before reaching Paris.

The multinational cooperation between Shanxi Jinou Logistics Co, Bracco group and Forwardis Group is responsible for organising the service. Cargo comprises disposable medical equipment, fitness equipment, tires and automobiles. The train might be the first between Shanxi and France; however, the Chinese province has eight more routes between China and Europe.

Shanxi province

Shanxi is positioned in North-East China and very close to Xi’an, Zhengzhou, and the capital city Beijing. The province has eight China-Europe Express connections, but it also connects very frequently with Europe through Xi’an. The Shanxi Jinou Logistics group involved in the Shanxi-Paris train is the only freight train operator in the province, and it has been active since 2017.

Most of the province’s exported cargo towards Europe consists of daily goods, ceramics, machinery, cotton yarn and wood. According to Shanxi Jiniou Logistics, the company’s objective now is to “transform the province into an assembly hub for China-Europe freight train services and reach the goal of launching 300 trains in 2021”.

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