The first cargo train, launching the direct rail route and sea freight service between China and Pakistan, departed from Yunnan, an inland province in southwest China, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.
A cargo train loaded with 500 tonnes of commodities left Kunming, capital of Yunnan, for the port city of Guangzhou from where the cargo will be loaded on ships and transported to Karachi, marking the opening of the new route.
“The route helps local businesses connect with the world market,” Wu Jianlie a representative from the New Silk Road Yunnan Limited said. The new service is said to reduce the transport cost by more than half.
Experts also stated that it would be beneficial for the local firms and traders, who could not expand more and cater to the demands of international clients. They further stated that goods could now reach clients efficiently and more effectively as well as bring prominence to Yunnan.
