Guests attended the China (Chongqing) Malaysia Economic and Trade Conference on October 21 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo/New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co., Ltd.)

Chongqing—At a recent event in Kuala Lumpur, New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co., Ltd. announced the opening of its Malaysia office, the company’s third overseas branch, during the China (Chongqing)–Malaysia Economic and Trade Conference.

This underscores deepening Chongqing–Malaysia cooperation under the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC). The existing Chongqing–Malaysia route, a key segment of the ILSTC, has become a vital channel linking western China with Southeast Asia.

In 2024, Chongqing–Malaysia trade reached 23.3 billion yuan (about 3.3 billion U.S. dollars), up 22.7 percent year-over-year. From January to August 2025, the total was 12.51 billion yuan (about 1.76 billion U.S. dollars), according to conference disclosures.

The event, centered on synergy and development, aimed to boost corridor-driven trade and investment, drawing senior officials and business representatives from Chongqing and Malaysia. At the event, Duan Bensheng, Deputy General Manager of New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co., Ltd., introduced the ASEAN Express service, which integrates the ILSTC and the China–Europe Railway Express.

As an integrated network, the ASEAN Express now links Southeast Asia and Europe through Chongqing, positioning the ILSTC as a backbone of cross-continental connectivity. In June 2024, the ASEAN Express launched its two-way service linking China, Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia, marking the regular Chongqing–Malaysia connection. By October 2024, the service was extended to Europe via Chongqing, joining the ASEAN Express with the China–Europe Railway Express. 

In June 2025, the return route from Duisburg to ASEAN began operation, completing bidirectional service. Within this network, a new route between Kuantan Port, Malaysia, and Duisburg, Germany, established in 2025, cuts transit time by 50 percent compared with sea freight and costs about one-fifth of air transport, while reducing emissions.

New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co., Ltd. has established a domestic network with regional operating companies in Chongqing, Guizhou, and Hunan as a cross-regional integrated operator. The Malaysian office will provide one-stop services such as customs coordination and multimodal logistics to strengthen ILSTC's on-the-ground presence in Southeast Asia.

ILSTC's scale has continued to expand: by October 15, 2025, the corridor's annual throughput surpassed 1 million TEUs, with Chongqing serving as its operational hub.