The China-Europe freight train service reached a milestone with its 100,000th train, coded X8083, departing from the Tuanjiecun station in southwest China's Chongqing municipality on November 15.

As a calling card of the Belt and Road Initiative, for more than a decade the China-Europe Railway Express (CRE) has facilitated the stability of international industrial and supply chains, opening up a new pattern of international transportation and economic trade between Asia and Europe.

As a trade corridor, the CRE serves as an important engine for promoting global economic development. The annual number of trains it operates saw a nearly tenfold growth, increasing from 1,702 in 2016 to over 17,000 in 2023. It has driven industrial upgrades and economic development in the regions along its routes, injecting new vitality into the world economy.

Over the past years, the China-Europe freight trains has been transporting more than 50,000 goods spanning 53 categories, showing a wide diversity. They have enabled more "Made in China" products, such as electronics, home appliances, and new energy vehicles, to reach Europe at faster speeds and better prices, providing European consumers with more options and benefits. At the same time, it has opened up new trade channels for European producers and traders to enter the Chinese market.

The CRE has also given rise to many new logistics, industrial, and commercial centers, as well as industrial parks, providing more employment opportunities for local residents. Germany's Duisburg Port, a key European terminus of the CRE, has attracted many logistics enterprises, offering more than 20,000 job opportunities locally. In September, the Shandong China-Europe Express Railway Assembly Center was inaugurated in Serbia, making Shandong the first Chinese province to establish such a hub in the region. It will significantly enhance cross-border logistics.

The CRE has fostered closer exchanges between regions and cities, promoting a connected world. The freight train network currently links 227 cities across 25 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries. The close connections enhance the stability of international industrial and supply chains, while deepening mutual understanding and friendship among people.

Technological innovation is a driving force behind the CRE. From the use of BeiDou satellite navigation to 5G application, technology and intelligent management on the CRE has significantly enhanced the security and transparency of transportation. System projects like the "digital port" and "paperless customs clearance" have greatly improved the efficiency of customs clearance,  optimizing the logistics experience for users. These advanced technologies have earned the CRE a global reputation of as a secure, efficient, and modern logistics network.

Through increased trade, cultural exchange, and economic cooperation, the CRE not only serves as a trade corridor but also conveys positive energy for building a community with a shared future for humankind.