Officials broke ground at Xinzhu Logistics Base on Oct 27 in the Xi’an International Trade and Logistics Park.

The base is one of the 60 key railway projects designated by the State Council in 2015 to promote the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as a crucial task on the agenda of Shaanxi provincial government, Xi’an city government and China Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC).

Covering an area of 667 square meters and with a total investment of 4.8 billion yuan ($710 million), the base will complement the current Xi’an Railway Container Center Station and improve the area’s logistics network.

The project will be completed in two phases over 18 months. It will be divided into eight functional areas, including a packing area and storage and distribution area. Contractors expect that the base will be able to transport 13 million tons of goods by 2020. That number will increase to 29.65 million tons by 2035.

Once completed, it will enhance the logistics park as a comprehensive transportation hub and make it more efficient. The project is aimed at facilitating transportation along the Silk Road Economic Belt and increasing the international competitiveness of Shaanxi province and Xi’an city.

In his address at the commencement ceremony, Lv Jian, executive deputy mayor of Xi’an, said that the Xinzhu Logistics Base is a milestone in the development of logistics in Xi’an and Shaanxi. Sun Yimin, deputy director of the logistics park’s management committee, pledged to closely cooperate with relevant department and government bodies to ensure the project is completed as scheduled.

Source: China daily.com