On the evening of July 8, the Changchun Xinglong Railway Port was bathed in a warm golden glow by the setting sun. Fully loaded trucks moved in an orderly fashion into the inspection area, while the iron arms of cranes lifted and placed containers with precision. In the distance, a China-Europe Railway Express train on the Changchun-Manzhouli-Europe route (hereinafter referred to as the Changchun-Manzhouli-Europe freight train) stood ready for departure, as the duty officer kept a close eye on the clock ticking on the dispatch screen. "Depart!" With a long whistle piercing the twilight, the train slowly set off. In less than 15 days, this train, loaded with high-tech and advanced machinery, LCDs, and electronic components, will arrive in Nuremberg, Germany. Along this "golden belt" of the "Belt and Road" Initiative, Changchun's manufacturing strength and Jilin's industrial vitality are being closely linked with Europe's market demands and global cooperation opportunities.

The report card for the first half of this year is impressive, with sustained momentum in opening up. The number of Changchun-Manzhouli-Europe freight train trips has continued to grow steadily, with goods worth nearly RMB 600 million transported, bringing more products made in Jilin and brands from Jilin to Europe and beyond. Anchored in railway logistics like the China-Europe Railway Express (Changchun-Manzhouli-Europe and Changchun-Hunchun-Europe), Changchun is working in synergy with nearby road ports, airports, and seaports to build an international multimodal transport corridor system, which will help extend its economic and trade reach deep into the European heartland, transform its advantages in hubs, logistics, and industries, and steadily broaden the city's path of opening-up.

From local manufacturing to global goods flows, a look at the cargo manifest of Changchun-Manzhouli-Europe freight trains, averaging six departures per month, shows that auto components, machinery, and electronics remain the mainstays. Of all exported goods, 60% come from within Jilin Province. More and more "Made in China" products, such as FAW Group's gearboxes, Fuyao's glass, and Kumho's tires, are reaching the world via the China-Europe Railway Express.

Today, the circle of friends of the Changchun-Manzhouli-Europe route has extended far beyond Jilin. It serves local needs while consolidating goods from the three provinces in Northeast China, the Bohai Rim, and North China, and even reaching Northeast Asian countries like South Korea and Japan. An increasing number of international goods are now connected to this route through multimodal transport, enabling efficient international transportation and transfer.

The range of goods carried by this route has expanded to over 3,000 types, covering automobiles, auto components, agricultural products, daily necessities, and more. It has become a key support for stabilizing foreign trade in the region and ensuring smooth and stable international supply and industrial chains.

Multimodal transport, combining "road, air, rail, and sea", has created a seamless network, making cargo transfer smooth and effortless. Two national-level projects—the Land Port National Logistics Hub and the MOT's Multimodal Transport Demonstration Project—provide strong momentum for efficient logistics operations. The new "one lading bill" model for end-to-end logistics has taken effect, while the customs clearance convenience of "direct access to the port upon entering the area" has significantly reduced the circulation time. Today, a trunk logistics network has been built for Changchun-Manzhouli-Europe freight trains departing from Changchun, reaching nearly 100 stations in Russia and covering 35 stations across 15 European countries. The advantageous "four-in-one" multimodal transport not only extends the "tentacles" of industrial chains but also propels modern logistics and international trade industries onto a fast track of vigorous growth.

The China-Europe Railway Express is not merely a logistics channel—it exemplifies the win-win cooperation under the "Belt and Road" Initiative.

Wang Yue, Chairman of Changchun International Land Port Development Co., Ltd., put it this way, "Relying on the efficient connectivity of the China-Europe Railway Express to the Belt and Road countries, we have laid a solid foundation for the development of Jilin Province's key industries. For example, the export channel for FAW Group's commercial vehicles remains smooth, and the province's cold-chain products are reaching markets in these countries via the trains. These have become our key focus areas that can inject fresh momentum into the local economy."

Ensuring smooth logistics is only the starting point; the greater goal is to attract and retain high-quality resources effectively. This is essential for advancing from a transport hub to a logistics cluster and, ultimately, to a resource aggregation hub. Today, this vision is opening up vast opportunities for the development of distinctive industries in Changchun and Jilin. By developing special trains for exporting finished vehicles and other cargo, Jilin's competitive industries, such as automobiles and cold chains, have been precisely empowered, continuously energizing industrial chains. Additionally, auto parts, as staple cargo on these trains, have become strong drivers for "Made in Changchun" and "Made in Jilin" products to enter the global stage, further expanding the influence of local manufacturing.

Meanwhile, more and more premium international products like avocado oil, imported flour, German beer, and French wine are making their way into the lives of Changchun residents via the Changchun-Manzhouli-Europe route, enhancing the quality of life in the city.

The integrated operation of the Changchun Xinglong Railway Port and the Xinglong Comprehensive Bonded Zone stands out as a key advantage. Here, international distribution, bonded warehousing, bonded processing, and other services are completed in a "one-stop" manner. The synergistic effect of "1+1>2" has improved customs clearance efficiency by 50%, giving the area a leading functional advantage nationwide.

Moreover, to ensure the efficient customs clearance of freight trains, Changchun Xinglong Customs has proactively engaged with enterprises to address their needs and guided them to adopt the "Railway Fast Clearance" model, effectively reducing their logistics costs. Furthermore, by moving forward the information-sharing nodes between the Customs and enterprises, the Customs can gain early access to enterprises' logistics plans and other information and provide "one-stop" service guides, "one-on-one" declaration guidance, and 24/7 appointment-based customs clearance services. As a result, freight trains are inspected immediately upon arrival and released promptly, achieving seamless integration between customs supervision and railway transport and greatly enhancing overall efficiency.

As the whistle of the Changchun-Manzhouli-Europe freight train echoes again at the Changchun Xinglong Railway Port, this "steel camel caravan" has long surpassed its role as a mere means of transport. It is propelling Changchun's auto industry onto the global stage, delivering Jilin's agricultural products to the world, and embodying the deeper meaning of the win-win cooperation under the "Belt and Road" Initiative. From here, Changchun's path of opening-up extends ever further into the future.

 

 

 

Source: Changchun Daily   Editor: LI Ye