A freight train departs from Yiwu West Railway Station in Yiwu county-level city, Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang province, on Feb 6, 2025. [Photo/Tide News]

A freight train carrying 100 containers of automotive parts and daily necessities departed Yiwu West Railway Station in Yiwu, Jinhua, Zhejiang province, on Feb 6, marking the launch of the Yiwu-Tashkent express route under the China-Europe freight service.

The 6,200-kilometer journey to Uzbekistan's capital now takes just six to eight days, down from the previous 10 to 12 days. This efficiency gain was achieved through the first digital integration of tracking systems between China and Kazakhstan, streamlining customs clearance and freight coordination.

The service also introduced digitized logistics processes, enabling pre-arranged customs declarations and whole-train transfers at border points.

The new express route is set to bolster trade between China and Central Asia, providing faster and more efficient access to Central Asia for Chinese goods and strengthening cross-border logistics ties.

In 2024, the China-Europe freight train service expanded to 25 routes, running 2,619 trains, an increase of 10 percent. It now offers services to more than 160 cities in over 50 countries, with over 100 overseas stops.