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China begins first freight train service to London

It will pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France

Reuters January 04, 2017

PHOTO: AFP

China has begun its first freight train service to London from Yiwu, a famed wholesale market town in the eastern province of Zhejiang, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The train will travel for 18 days over more than 7,500 miles (12,000 km) to reach Britain from China, Xinhua said. It will pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France before arriving in London.

China to loan $1b for new road projects

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron raised some eyebrows with allies by pitching Britain as the pre-eminent gateway to the West for investment from China and proposing to make London the main international trading centre for offshore yuan.

Prime Minister Theresa May has said the relationship with China remains "golden" as she seeks to bring in billions of dollars in Chinese investment as Britain prepares to leave the European Union.

COMMENTS (4)

aqib | 7 years ago | Reply @Truth: Sea route is always cheaper and without any hurdles. Land route has to pass from number of countries and that is problem. Gawadar is gateway to Gulf and Africa primarily. Its one part of Chinese trade. Moreover, a port is always a crown of jewel in a superpower.

Pakistani | 7 years ago | Reply good work

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fahim | 7 years ago | Reply @Truth: Don't worry

Truth | 7 years ago | Reply So China does not need Pakistan to reach Europe.China will also not use Gwadar for oil transportation since transporting oil is cheaper by sea route to East China where major Chinese population and industries are located. We can only connect to Xinjiang province which has economy smaller than Pakistan's economy. How are we going to pay back the loans.

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