Chongqing- A landmark event occurred in the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) on March 19 as the first freight train loaded with bulk commodities journeyed from Qinzhou Port, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, to Chongqing's Qianjiang Station, arriving to offload its cargo. The train brought 20 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of manganese ore from Australia and South Africa, destined for direct distribution to local businesses.

This inaugural run signifies the first of its kind since the launch of Qianjiang's 4.5 million-ton railway freight yard on February 29, marking a new phase in Qianjiang Station's operational capabilities.

He Jian, director of the Qianjiang District Commission of Commerce, shared his enthusiasm about the breakthrough, "We've managed to cut down freight time by 20% and reduce logistics costs by 10%. We're currently expediting the transport of goods from Qianjiang and cities in Hubei Province like Xianfeng, Lichuan, and Enshi, aiming to extend the corridor's benefits to more businesses in and around Qianjiang."

Qianjiang, strategically positioned as the southeast regional hub of Chongqing and a vital node within the corridor, is crucial in bolstering the corridor's infrastructure. The recent operationalization of Qianjiang Station's container and bulk yards, boosting the yard's capacity to 2 million tons annually, underscores the district's seamless integration into the corridor's expansive logistics network.

The commencement of train services along this new stretch of the corridor significantly enhances the transport framework for Qianjiang and its neighboring areas, simultaneously reducing logistics expenses and fostering a synergistic relationship between corridor operations, trade, and industrial development. 

Moving forward, Qianjiang District plans to spearhead the ILSTC expansion, focusing on crucial sectors like manganese and chrome ore, fiberglass, and food processing.

Since 2024, ILSTC has operated over 2,000 intermodal rail-sea route services. The structure of cargo sources utilizing the corridor continues to evolve, with the Beibu Gulf Port in Qinzhou reporting a foreign trade volume of 20,539 TEUs as of March 10, a 36% increase.

Notably, goods transported from RCEP member countries via ILSTC have reached 11,023 TEUs, accounting for 23% of the corridor's total volume and marking a 35% increase year-on-year, highlighting the corridor's growing influence in regional commerce.