The first freight train from China, carrying 80 containers, arrived at the Rail Service Centre Rotterdam.

Having departed from Kumming, Yunnan province, it went to Zabaykalsk where it crossed the Russian border and then on to Belarus.

The train then crossed the Polish border at Brest/Malaszewicze where the units destined for Rotterdam were loaded onto rail cars on the European track gauge.

China has set up a Silk Road Fund which has US$40 billion at its disposal to invest in infrastructure along the route.