As part of his five day trip to Europe, the Chinese president is also visiting Duisburg on March 29 in addition to Brussels, Paris and Berlin. Logport in Duisburg is the only company visit the Chinese president is making during his trip. It underlines the importance of Sino-German trade relations and the special role of the largest inland port in the world for trade with China. At the center of his visit to Duisburg is the arrival of the “Yuxinou Train”,
which travels up to three times a week between Chongqing in Central China and Duisburg. “Through this train connection, which the Chinese are already describing as the new Silk Road, China and Germany have come closer together,” emphasizes Erich Staake, Chief Executive Officer of Duisburger Hafen AG. “The Yuxinou Train is proof that every distance can be overcome, no matter how far, if you create connections that bring benefits for both sides.”
The regular freight train connection between Chongqing, the largest city in the world, and the world’s largest inland port already attracted a great deal of attention last year. In the presence of representatives of the Chinese media and state television, the arrival of the Yuxinou Train on September 10, 2013 was celebrated with a large reception.
The media attention this aroused has now led to the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping,
wanting to get a picture of the destination of the train in the Port of Duisburg himself on his European trip. Xi Jingping is being accompanied on his visit to logport by Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel and Hannelore Kraft, Prime Minister of North Rhine Westphalia.
The Yuxinou Train, which covers a route of over 10,000 kilometers in 16 days, was started in summer 2011 as the
first train between China and Germany with one departure per week. Duisburger Hafen AG played a decisive role in bringing this connection about. Since then the number of weekly departures has risen to three – with continuing positive growth perspectives.
“The train is twice as fast as transport on the sea route but only half as expensive as air freight. I am therefore
confident that the frequency of the train connection will develop even more strongly in future,” explains Staake.
The Port of Duisburg is the only port in Europe offering several transcontinental train connections to China. Thus,
in addition to the direct connection between Chongqing and Duisburg, there is also a regular train connection from Shanghai/Beijing to Duisburg.
“Through these transcontinental connections the port is coming even more into the focus of global supply chains.
At the same time they are strengthening Duisburg as the leading logistics hub in Central Europe. I would not be
surprised if the visit of the Chinese President provided a further impetus to developing the new Silk Road,” concludes Staake.
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