China and Afghanistan are strengthening ties

China has established a railway link with Afghanistan and sent the first freight train on the new route via Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Xinhua news agency reported.

55 containers of ZTE communications equipment are leaving Chongqing and heading to Hairatan, Afghanistan, via the port of Khorgos in Xinjiang. The journey will take a total of 12-15 days.

ZTE spokesman Liu Jianfeng said the new route will shorten transportation time by 3-5 days compared to road transport and reduce logistics costs by 15-20 percent. This will improve the safety and efficiency of cargo transportation.

Chinese officials have stressed that the opening of this route will strengthen trade and economic ties between China, Afghanistan, and Central Asian countries.

According to Xinhua News Agency, more than 18,000 freight trains have been dispatched from Chongqing to date, heading to the territory of Central Asian countries via the China-Europe international railway routes.