Freight train departs for Uzbekistan on new route

The first transnational freight train departing from Langfang just outside Beijing in Hebei province, on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan route, set off for Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, on Tuesday.

On its 12-day, 6,000-kilometer journey across China and Central Asia, the train operated by China Railway Beijing Group will first stop in Kashgar in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The 1,000 metric tons of cargo, which mainly consists of steelwork, insulation pipes and pipe trusses, will be transported over a transnational highway and exit the country through Irkeshtam Port and enter into Kyrgyzstan, stopping at Osh where another train will transport it to Tashkent in Uzbekistan.

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan route is a relatively new one for trade between China and Central Asia, according to Taitong International Transport (Langfang) Co.

"Along the new route, the transportation time will be shortened by at least three days compared with the traditional routes and the logistics efficiency will be improved," said Chu Xuan, chairman of the board of the transportation company. He added it can help reduce transportation costs and relieve congestion at ports.