Beijing, Feb 28 (IANS): A cargo train carrying Chinese-made goods left China's Harbin city for Russia, marking the opening of a new freight route between the two countries.
The new route links Harbin, capital of China's Heilongjiang province, with Russia's fourth largest city Ekaterinburg, said sources with Harbin Commerce Bureau on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.
Saturday's train transported $1.46 million worth of bicycle parts and light industrial products, mostly from southern China. It will complete the 5,889 km journey in 10 days.
Before the opening of the route, cargo from southern China to Russia was always transported via Dalian Port in Liaoning province for ocean shipping.
"A shipment took 40 days on average and was quite expensive, too," said Meng Qingwen, general manager of a logistics company.
