The China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area in Qingdao, also known as SCODA, saw a surge in China-Europe freight train trips in the first half of this year.

The area's China-Europe freight train service operated 519 train trips from January to June, up 20.7 percent year-on-year, according to the Administrative Committee of SCODA.

SCODA opens freight train service to Dong Nai, Vietnam in March, 2023. [Photo/Guanhai News]

Up to now, SCODA has operated 31 international and domestic freight train routes on a regular basis, connecting 54 cities and 23 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

In the first half of this year, SCODA rolled out freight train service to Dong Nai, Vietnam, and the first automobile export special train for Chinese automaker Chery Automobile.

"We have built a production base in Qingdao, and the China-Europe freight train service is convenient and efficient, which greatly helps us to better capture overseas orders and expand international market share," said a senior manager from Chery's Qingdao factory.

Since the beginning of this year, about 700 Chery cars have been shipped to the SCO countries via SCODA's China-Europe freight train service, providing a strong transportation guarantee for the company to rapidly expand its overseas market in Europe and Asia.

The China-Europe freight train service has also helped transport raw materials and high-quality commodities from the SCO countries such as coal, sheet metal and wine to the Chinese market and promote economic and trade exchanges between SCO countries.