With the arrival of Kazakh grain and meats from Spain, local residents of Xi’an city have sensed that the free trade zone has brought them conveniences.

As one of the most important parts of the Shaanxi Pilot Free Trade Zone, Xi’an International Trade and Logistic Park will make effort to promote trade and logistics service in the area.

The China (Shaanxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone won central government approval on Aug 31, 2016. Staff members from Xi’an International Trade and Logistics Park have since joined training sessions in Shanghai and Changchun to improve customs clearance efficiency in the park. Official statistics show that more than 40,000 goods are cleared by customs, almost 20 times as much as the same period last year.

Zhai Ruopeng, general manager of the Xi’an Internatinal Lugang Logistics Enterprise, said that they have introduced the innovative working procedures from coastal cities. Xi’an city is also planning the construction of a cultural trade center, an international procurement center and a grain import trade distribution center.

Looking back over 2016, Xi’an International Trade and Logistic Park made large progress promoting investment and providing trade conveniences. The year saw a series of China-Europe lines opened in the park connecting Xi'an with many European cities, such as Warsaw and Hamburg, further creating opportunities for logistics development and cross-border e-commerce.

Shaanxi’s goal to make the provincial capital of Xi’an a global trade hub linking China with Europe by rail took another leap forward on Jan 2, when the Xi’an International Trade and Logistic Park confirmed a deal with Kouvola, Finland to establish a “Northern Corridor” rail link connecting Xi’an and the Finnish city.

The rail link is expected to open new trade possibilities between China and Finland. Kouvola lies at the junction of the northern European country’s north-south and east-west railways and is a major road transport hub, allowing convenient access to the rest of the country.

Source: China daily.com