Freight train services linking China with Europe and Central Asia are playing an increasingly critical role in boosting bilateral trade and economic integration, according to officials and industry experts speaking at the 9th China-Eurasia Expo held in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The event, running from June 25 to 29, highlighted steady growth in freight train operations alongside expanding industrial upgrading and rising consumer demand across Eurasian markets. Experts emphasized that enhanced cooperation in sectors such as high-end manufacturing, green energy, and the digital economy is expected to drive deeper Belt and Road cooperation and support sustainable regional development.

Wan Zhe, a professor specializing in regional economic development at Beijing Normal University, noted the growing alignment between China’s manufacturing strengths and the evolving needs of Eurasian economies. She pointed out that freight trains are not only facilitating trade but also integrating industrial and supply chains, enabling businesses to respond more swiftly to market demands and promoting higher-value trade in areas like advanced manufacturing and clean energy.

The Alashankou (Alataw Pass) railway port in northern Xinjiang has been a key hub in this network. Over the past 15 years, the port has handled more than 56,400 China-Europe and China-Central Asia freight train trips, representing over 30 percent of the national total, according to data from Urumqi Customs. In the first five months of 2026 alone, 3,753 freight train services passed through Alashankou, marking a 15.4 percent increase compared with the same period last year.

Currently, 128 freight train routes operate through Alashankou, connecting China with 21 countries. The range of cargo has broadened considerably since the early years, now encompassing over 200 categories of higher value-added goods, such as new energy vehicles and precision instruments.

Some Chinese manufacturers have seen direct benefits from these expanding freight routes. Ningbo Asia Pulp and Paper Co, based in Zhejiang province, has experienced growing demand for its products in Kazakhstan, especially in food packaging materials. Chen Xilin, director of customs affairs for the company, highlighted specialty products such as food-grade coated kraft paper and plastic-free cup paper as key drivers of this growth.

From January to May, Ningbo Asia Pulp and Paper Co’s exports to Central Asian countries increased by 36.09 percent year-on-year to 25.2 million yuan ($3.7 million). Exports to Central and Eastern European countries also rose by 6.35 percent to 113.6 million yuan during the same period. Meanwhile, overall exports from the city of Ningbo to Central Asia surged 43.97 percent to 3.86 billion yuan, while exports to Central and Eastern Europe climbed 8.2 percent to 22.2 billion yuan, according to Ningbo Customs.

Similar trends have been observed in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, where Suzhou Samsung Electronics Co, a unit of South Korea’s Samsung Electronics, reported a sharp increase in home appliance exports, including refrigerators and washing machines, to Tajikistan. Its shipments were valued at 6 million yuan in the first five months of the year, up 140 percent from the previous year, according to Nanjing Customs.

Overall, the continued expansion of freight train services appears to be a vital artery supporting trade flows, industrial cooperation, and economic growth across the China-Eurasia corridor.