Spirit of the Silk Road lives on in Xi'an

Busiest service

The Chang'an train service, departing from or arriving in Xi'an, stands out as the most bustling of the 86 routes of the China-Europe freight train service — a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Since the service was launched in November 2013, the Chang'an trains have undertaken more than 20,000 trips, accounting for about a quarter of the total trips across all 86 routes traversed by the China-Europe freight trains. This year alone, the trains have averaged 14.7 trips a day, with one train departing or arriving in Xi'an approximately every 100 minutes on average. This distinction makes the station the busiest in the country in terms of the China-Europe freight train travel.

"The China-Europe Railway Express provides a new choice for international logistics in inland countries in Central Asia," said Yuan Xiaojun, general manager of the Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co.

The cost of using the China-Europe freight trains is approximately 20 percent that of air transportation, while the journey time is about 25 percent that of sea transportation, according to data from the China State Railway Group, the national railway operator.

More than 60 global top 500 companies and more than 200 of China's top 500 companies use the service, according to Yuan.

Expanding its reach, the China-Europe freight train service, including the Chang'an route, links more than 110 Chinese cities with 217 cities in 25 European countries, as well as more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries and regions.

The efficiency of the Chang'an trains has seen Jumekenova's cross-border e-commerce venture soar to new heights. "Speed is crucial for us," she said. "Without robust logistics, we couldn't have grown as extensively as we have today."

Reflecting on the company's journey, Jumekenova recalled filling a container in March 2017. "It was like this one," she said during a visit to the Xi'an station in February, pointing at a large red container.

That container held about 200,000 items, including electronics, small household appliances and cellphone accessories, with a total value of approximately 60 million yuan. At times, Jumekenova's company dispatched an entire train, consisting of 50 containers, in one go.

The success story extends beyond the company itself. With over 50 employees in China and Kazakhstan, the company has become a source of livelihood for many. Kuzdeubaev Asylbek Usenuly, a manager at the Kazakhstan subsidiary, earns a monthly salary of KZT 300,000 ($650), a significant income for a resident of Almaty.

Jumekenova's business also provides better access to affordable, high-quality Chinese goods to people in Kazakhstan, while businesses in Kazakhstan can tap into the vast Chinese market through her company. For instance, Agrofirma, a leading agricultural company in Kazakhstan, exports animal fodder to China through Jumekenova's company, via the returning Chang'an trains.

Additionally, more than 2,000 young people in Kazakhstan have partnered with her company, earning commissions by creating and sharing online videos. Influencers such as Eseeva Dana Sabirovna, who has more than 3 million followers on Instagram, find success by livestreaming products for the Silk Road City platform. "It came as a surprise to me that just two months after I began livestreaming their products I received good commission revenue," Sabirovna said.

Looking ahead, Jumekenova wants to develop SRC Shop, her company's cross-border e-commerce platform, into Kazakhstan's premier e-commerce platform. "Wherever the China-Europe freight trains go, we will sell our goods there. That's our wish," she said.

The prosperity of Jumekenova's company aligns with the growing trade ties between China and Kazakhstan. Last year, the volume of railway cargo between the two countries reached 23 million metric tons, a 20 percent rise from 2021. Moreover, the total trade volume of goods between China and Kazakhstan reached $31.17 billion last year, up 23.6 percent from 2021.

"China-Europe freight trains have opened a 'gateway to the sea' for Kazakhstan," said Kyraubayev Zhoshykhan, Kazakhstan's consul general in Xi'an.