At 9:10 am local time on December 3rd, the X8083 China Europe freight train from Chongqing, China successfully arrived in Duisburg, Germany and slowly entered the unloading station. The electronic products and consumer goods loaded on the train will be quickly distributed to various parts of Europe. At this point, the China Europe freight train has set a new record for operation: a total of 100000 trains have been operated, with over 11 million TEUs of goods shipped and a value of over 420 billion US dollars. Day and night, galloping for thousands of miles. After continuous exploration and development, from an increasingly intensive route layout to an increasingly efficient trade process, China Europe Express has developed into a convenient, efficient, safe, stable and green economic new mode of international transport organization, and has become a vivid practice of steadily advancing the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road". On the Eurasian continent, the China Europe freight train is writing a wonderful chapter of cooperation, mutual benefit, and connectivity. This is the 100000th China Europe freight train captured on December 3rd at the DIT station in Duisburg, Germany. Xinhua News Agency reporter Du Zheyu's photo shows the revitalized development path as we step into the North Duisburg Landscape Park. The towering furnaces and interlocking steel skeletons of industrial sites tell the glory of the "German industrial heart" in the "Black Gold Age". Nowadays, this old industrial city has been revitalized by the China Europe freight trains, and the frequent freight trains between Asia and Europe have become Duisburg's new urban calling card. Using "port" as a medium, Duisburg actively develops its logistics industry to address the dual challenges of global competition and energy transformation. As traditional industries gradually fade out of Duisburg, the intensive operation of China Europe freight trains helps the city achieve industrial transformation. Nowadays, increasingly busy ports handle over 4 million TEUs of goods annually. "Duisburg is deeply involved in the joint construction of the 'the Belt and Road'. Duisburg Port has become the node with the widest route, the most frequent shifts, and the largest volume and value of goods of China Europe Express in Western Europe." Chang Haitao, the acting general manager of China in Dusseldorf, said that hundreds of Chinese logistics and e-commerce companies have settled in Duisburg, injecting new economic vitality and development momentum into the city. The China Europe freight train not only brings "Made in China" and "China Opportunities" to countries along the route, but also injects strong impetus into regional economic cooperation through new formats such as "China Europe freight train+ports" and "China Europe freight train+parks". Marcus Toiber, the China Affairs Commissioner of Duisburg Municipal Government, said that the China Europe freight train has played an indispensable role in promoting the transformation of Duisburg Port from a traditional inland port to an international logistics hub. The China Europe freight train not only promotes bilateral trade, but also creates new opportunities for common development for countries and cities along the route. Duisburg has experienced rapid growth in its logistics industry with the development of the China Europe freight train, fully reflecting the profound impact of interconnectivity in promoting regional economic development Michael Schuman, President of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, said. On December 3rd, at the DIT station in Duisburg, Germany, staff took a group photo at the reception ceremony of the 100000th China Europe freight train. Photo by Du Zheyu, Xinhua News Agency. The opportunity of "linking" China and Europe is faster than sea freight and more cost-effective than air freight. With efficient and stable transportation services, the China Europe freight train has become an important bridge and green channel connecting the Asian and European continents. Olaf Klugel, President of the German International Railway Freight Business Association, believes that this is not only an important achievement in the economic and trade cooperation between Europe and China, but also highlights the enormous potential of global industrial and supply chains in achieving win-win development. In the view of Christian Hinkel, the head of corporate communication at German footwear giant Daichmann, a secure and stable supply chain cooperation between Europe and China is crucial for the company. Hinkel told reporters that in the past, the company relied on sea freight, which had long transportation cycles and high uncertainties. However, the China Europe freight train helped them launch their products into the market in a shorter time and improve their response speed to consumer demand. In the field of automobile trade, the supply chain finance model of China Europe freight trains has also brought innovative development. Fu Shigang, Chairman of Carlson (Chongqing) Import and Export Trading Co., Ltd., stated that importing complete vehicles usually requires a one-time full payment. Nowadays, railway bills of lading for China Europe freight trains can serve as financing vouchers, providing convenient financial support for enterprises. The efficient logistics services of the China Europe freight train have brought significant benefits to many German and European enterprises. Its stability and reliability help companies optimize their supply chain and ensure on-time transportation. Especially when importing products from China, the China Europe freight train significantly shortens the transportation cycle, which enhances market response speed and gives enterprises an advantage in global competition, "said Kruger. On December 3rd, at the DIT station in Duisburg, Germany, a staff member walked past a container of the China Europe freight train. In recent years, some Western countries have seen a rise in unilateralism and protectionism, hyping up the so-called "risk reduction" and China's new energy "overcapacity theory" in an attempt to disrupt and discredit China Europe relations. The acceleration of the China Europe freight train once again proves that China Europe cooperation is not only in line with the development interests of both sides, but also an important driving force for global stability and development. Kruger said that especially during the pandemic and global shipping disruptions, the China Europe freight train has become the preferred logistics solution for many enterprises, providing important support for maintaining smooth global trade. Marcus Bane, CEO of Duisburg Port Group, said that in the face of a complex geopolitical environment, China Europe freight trains are playing an increasingly important role in maintaining global industrial and supply chain stability. The China Europe freight train demonstrates the outstanding achievements that can be achieved through interconnectivity. This successful case should inspire us to think deeply. The key to prosperity and development lies in interconnectivity, not building high walls or closed borders Schumann said that connectivity paves the way for prosperous development, and Europe must take this seriously when formulating future strategies for Europe and China. Looking ahead to the future, the China Europe freight train will not only be a logistics channel, but also an important platform for deepening cooperation between China and Europe and addressing global challenges. Kruger believes that the China Europe freight train is an efficient and environmentally friendly logistics solution, and a key tool for promoting regional cooperation and enhancing connectivity. He believes that the China Europe freight train will make greater contributions to maintaining global industrial and supply chain stability and deepening EU China relations in the future. Efficient transportation connections are an important foundation for the continuation and deepening of EU China relations Krueger said that the arrival of the 100000th China EU train in Duisburg is not only a milestone of Europe China railway cooperation, but also demonstrates the fruitful results of jointly building the "the Belt and Road" initiative to promote economic and trade exchanges between Europe and China. This is the beginning of history and also an opportunity to the future Schumann said. (New Society)