On February 10, the first direct freight train to Afghanistan departed from Chongqing, which will arrive in the city of Hairatan, passing through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The train is carrying 55 containers with communications equipment from the Chinese company ZTE, intended for the construction of telecommunications infrastructure in Afghanistan. The travel time will be from 12 to 15 days, and the key border crossing point on the Chinese border will be Khorgos.
The launch of the new railway route will significantly reduce the delivery time compared to road transport – by 3-5 days, and logistics costs will decrease by 15-20%, said ZTE representative Liu Jianfeng. This will increase the efficiency and security of deliveries, ensuring an uninterrupted supply of essential goods to Afghanistan.
Chongqing is already an important transport hub for China in international cargo transportation. Since the launch of the China-Europe and China-Central Asia railway routes, more than 18,000 freight trains have departed from the city, strengthening China’s links with global markets.