A rendering of the Qianchang multimodal transport monitoring center in Xiamen. [Photo/WeChat account of the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone]
The Qianchang multimodal transport monitoring center is under smooth construction in Xiamen, Fujian province, according to the city's transportation department.
Upon completion, all China-Europe (Xiamen) freight trains will depart from the center, which is expected to enhance transportation efficiency.
Xiamen is one of the pivot cities of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and one of the four international shipping centers to which the country has attached great importance.
The city launched its first China-Europe freight train on Aug 16, 2015, and had completed 1,148 trips with 94,778 twenty-foot equivalent units, which were totally valued at $4.13 billion by May 31, 2022.
The current Xiamen-Hamburg (Duisburg), Xiamen-Central Asia and Xiamen-Russia routes link more than 30 cities in 12 countries, forming a new international logistics channel that connects the Europe with Southeast Asia.
As one of Xiamen's five major logistics industry clusters, Qianchang has modified its railway cargo transportation resources to develop multimodal transport, supply-chain logistics and e-commerce logistics.
The Qianchang multimodal transport monitoring center will focus on building a regional cargo collection and distribution hub for China-Europe freight trains, which will greatly improve the efficiency of cargo loading and unloading, reduce logistics costs, and relieve transportation pressure in the Haicang port area and other urban areas.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
