Chongqing - Carrying daily necessities manufactured in Chongqing, a batch of cross-border e-commerce goods departed from Chongqing Tuanjie Village Railway Station recently, reaching its destination in Bhutan, a tiny and remote kingdom nestling in the Himalayas between India and China.

Cleared by the Xiyong Customs District, these goods will be transported to Guangxi Qinzhou Port via rail-sea intermodal transportation on the New International Land-sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), then shipped by sea to Kolkata Port in India and finally to Bhutan.

The launch of this train service implies the regular operation of cross-border e-commerce freight trains on ILSTC. The process is expected to take approximately 22 days, reducing the logistics time by more than ten days compared to previous routes. 

The rise of globalization and e-commerce has led to a surge in cross-border e-commerce which has become a significant driver of global trade. 

Data shows that in 2022, China's import and export value of cross-border e-commerce totaled 2.11 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.8%, while the growth rate of e-commerce in Southeast Asia reached 26.2%. 

Logistics is crucial in cross-border e-commerce, requiring a robust domestic and international supply chain and logistics services. "The use of the cross-border e-commerce platforms and ILSTC enable us to deliver goods to overseas customers directly," said a company representative. 

Chongqing-made products have gained popularity in Southeast Asia, from automotive and motorcycle accessories to daily necessities. Cross-border e-commerce platforms and ILSTC will empower small and medium-sized enterprises in Chongqing to expand overseas markets and meet consumer demands. 

In recent years, the New Land-sea Corridor Operation Co., Ltd has been laid out in ASEAN countries by establishing overseas companies and a mainline transportation network encompassing big cities in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, etc. 

Nowadays, the ILSTC has connected 393 ports in 119 countries and regions worldwide. This efficient, convenient, and cost-effective transportation route will significantly facilitate the export of high-quality inland goods to ASEAN and even the global market.