The Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park, or ITL Park, is fully embracing the opportunities brought by its positioning as an opening-up hub in Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

A whole-vehicle import port in Xi'an Port, the park, which broke ground on March 24 and passed qualification approval on April 28, was established with the highest efficiency among similar ports in the country, with all construction and approval procedures finished within 36 days.

In Ghent, Belgium, the first batch of Volvo cars was loaded onto one of the international "Chang'an" freight trains that connect the inland city of Xi'an to Central Asia and Europe. The train set out to Xi'an whole-vehicle import port on May 7.

The port is becoming an imported vehicle distribution center in five provinces and regions of Northwest China, namely Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai provinces, Ningxia Hui and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The port is a result of the efforts made by the province to improve the business environment and develop hub, portal and mobile economies.

In May 2017, Xi'an Port was approved by the State Council as a whole-vehicle import port, the first such facility in the province.

Being home to the first inland port in China, the ITL Park is developing the hub, portal and mobile economies and merging with global shipping systems through its international "Chang'an" freight trains.

With its development as an import port for whole vehicles, grains and meat, the Xi'an Port's capabilities as a cargo distribution hub have been further improved.

"Without these ports, the imports have to be transported to Shaanxi via coastal ports," Bai Qinbin, an official in charge of port affairs at the ITL Park's administrative committee.

These ports make the direct interaction between Shaanxi and the world possible, he added.

Sun Yimin, director of the administrative committee, recalled the visit of Pan Xinzhe, president of Volvo Asia-Pacific Logistics, during early April this year. Pan hoped that Xi'an would finish the construction, qualification application and trial operation of the whole-vehicle import port within three months.

Pan said that two other cities spent a year and half a year, respectively, on whole-vehicle import port construction and test operation.

The park shortened the expected three months to 36 days, which was achieved by the joint efforts of provincial and municipal departments of port, customs and quality inspection.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/shaanxi/itl/2018-05/21/content_36247168_2.htm