Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 12 (Reporter Fan Xi) the latest data released by China National Railway Group Co., Ltd. on the 12th show that since the beginning of this year, there has been a new improvement in the number and quality of China-EU trains. In the first eight months, the number of trains running back and forth between China and Europe reached 5266.

According to the person in charge of the relevant departments of the National Railway Group, from January to August this year, the China-EU train opened 2845 trains, transporting 250000 TEUs, with a heavy box rate of 99 percent, and 2421 trains on the return journey, transporting 210000 TEUs, with a heavy box rate of 85 percent.

With the development of China-EU train, the comparative advantage of logistics service is more prominent. At present, with 1/3 of the shipping time and 1/5 of the air transport price, the China-EU train has attracted a large number of goods suitable for railway transportation, favored by the international market, and optimized the division of labor between sea, land and air logistics. It has provided strong support for the construction of "Belt and Road Initiative" and the economic and trade exchanges between China and the EU, and has increasingly shown the potential for market development.

In order to further promote the development of China-EU trains, the China-EU Train Transport Coordination Committee held its fourth meeting a few days ago to sum up the progress and results of China-EU train construction and study the high-quality development measures of China-EU trains. The National Railway Group, together with the China-EU train operators throughout the country, has jointly signed the Convention on promoting the High-quality Development of China-EU trains.

The responsible person said that the purpose of the Convention is to strengthen the market-oriented operation mechanism, adhere to the principle of joint discussion, joint construction and sharing, constantly strengthen and optimize transport organizations, further reduce logistics costs, and promote information construction among railways, customs, and operating enterprises in various countries. We will create a "digital" China-Europe train, optimize the evaluation system for high-quality development, and constantly strengthen the brand building of China-Europe train, so as to further enhance the reputation and influence of the brand.

Since opening in 2011, the number of trains in China and Europe has increased rapidly, from 17 in that year to 6300 in 2018.