China has launched a direct railway route from Xining in Qinghai province to Turkmenistan’s Balkan province, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The first freight train departed on Sunday, carrying 55 containers of electrical goods, auto parts, clothing and consumer products. Transit time is estimated at 14 to 15 days.
The route passes through the Khorgos border crossing in China’s Xinjiang region and continues via Kazakhstan, providing rail connectivity between Qinghai province and Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
According to CCTV, the new service is expected to reduce logistics costs and expand export opportunities to Central Asia.
The launch follows the opening earlier this month of another freight rail route from Chengdu in Sichuan province to Turkmenistan, further expanding China’s rail logistics network with Central Asia.
