As a transportation hub for the China-Europe Railway Freight Service, the Xi'an International Port Station in Shaanxi, China, plays a role in the trade dynamics between China and Central Asia. During harvest season, kiwi fruits from Yangling District, Xianyang City, are processed, packed, and transported to Xi'an Port, destined for Central Asia via the China-Europe Railway Express.
In 2024, Shaanxi reported agricultural product exports valued at 6.59 billion yuan (approximately 920 million USD), with kiwis, pears, and apples topping fruit export values nationally. The China-Europe Railway Express has reduced fruit transit time from 10 to 7 days and cut costs by nearly half, according to Ren Jianshe of Shaanxi Jinqiao Fruit Industry Co., Ltd., as reported by the China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Fei Yang, a Kyrgyzstani student at Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University in Shaanxi, observed the orchard-to-train logistics during a trip to Xianyang. "The fruit production here is on a large scale, and the logistics are very efficient. After graduation, I hope to work in trade and help transport more high-quality Chinese products to my hometown through the China-Europe Railway Express," she told CGTN.
A new terminal for freight between Xi'an and Kazakhstan commenced operations in February 2024 at Xi'an Port. Covering nearly 50 hectares, the terminal enhances the export pipeline for Shaanxi's fruits to Kazakhstan. The China-Europe Railway Express reduces fresh fruit transport time from 40 to 14 days.
Seitzhanov Mukhamezhan of the China-Kazakhstan (Xi'an) Trade and Logistics Co., Ltd. commented on the importance of "enhancing logistics infrastructure and boosting the capacity and efficiency of cross-border transport corridors" for advancing bilateral trade.
Source: Bastille Global Post