Spirit of the Silk Road lives on in Xi'an

Ancient route revived

The success of the Chang'an trains can be seen as a revival for Xi'an, which was known as Chang'an in ancient times and served as a starting point of the ancient Silk Road.

More than 2,100 years ago, it was from Chang'an, then China's capital, that an envoy embarked on a mission of peace and friendship to Central Asia, laying the foundations for the Silk Road. The historic route facilitated the global exchange of Chinese silk, tea and porcelain, while bringing back spices, glassware, furs, fruit and precious stones.

Reflecting on this rich history, President Xi Jinping proposed the concept of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" during a visit to Kazakhstan in September 2013.

A month later, in Indonesia, he introduced the idea of constructing the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. When combined, the proposals evolved into the Belt and Road Initiative.

Over the past decade, more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have embraced the BRI framework, ushering in nearly $1 trillion of investment, creating around 420,000 jobs along its routes and lifting almost 40 million people out of poverty.

Stephen Brawer, chairman of the Belt and Road Institute in Sweden, said the BRI is a historic initiative. "It represents a road for global development and the elimination of poverty," he said.

"It is the basis for cooperation and friendship that the world desperately needs in order to avoid the dangers of expanded conflicts or even global war."

The Chang'an trains act as modern replacements for the ancient camel caravans. They embody the same spirit of cooperation, mutual learning and benefit, but with improved efficiency, and also as a testament to the enduring principles that have defined the Silk Road throughout history.