A train loaded with 55 containers of photovoltaic modules departed from Xi'an, Shaanxi province, in mid-August, exiting China via Khorgos Port, and passing through Kazakhstan before crossing the Caspian Sea, and arriving at Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

This marked a significant milestone for the China-Europe Railway Express (Xi'an), which has now operated more than 30,000 trips since its inaugural journey in November 2013. As a result, Xi'an has become the first city in China to achieve this remarkable feat.

"It was the first time for our photovoltaic modules to be exported to Azerbaijan via the China-Europe Railway Express. Compared to a two-month journey by sea, the travel time was greatly reduced," said Ouyang Cefei, deputy general manager of the Northwest Power Construction Engineering of China Energy Engineering Group.

Normally the train arrives in Azerbaijan within 15 to 20 days, according to China Railway Xi'an Group.

The modules will be used in the 445-megawatt photovoltaic project in Bilasuvar and a 315-megawatt one in Banka, Azerbaijan. The former is the largest of its kind under construction in the country.

Wang Wenjie, Party secretary of the business department of Xi'an international port station, China Railway Xi'an Group, said that the cumulative total of 30,000 trips accounts for one-quarter of all China-Europe Railway Express operations nationwide.

"The China-Europe Railway Express (Xi'an) has set a record by leading the country for seven consecutive years in terms of the number of trips, cargo volume and heavy container rate," Wang said.

On Aug 11, 2021, its total number of trips exceeded 10,000, and on Sept 28, 2023, it surpassed 20,000.

"Now, a train arrives or departs every 80 minutes with a daily frequency of 16.9 trips," said Du Hu, deputy director of Xi'an international port station.

The China-Europe Railway Express (Xi'an) currently operates 18 international transport routes covering the Eurasian continent, reaching westward to Hamburg and Rotterdam, connecting northward to Moscow and Minsk, and extending southward via the New Western Land-Sea Corridor to Southeast Asia.

Additionally, 26 domestic routes extend the source of goods to the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions. Xi'an has also collaborated with ports such as Qingdao in Shandong province and Ningbo in Zhejiang province to launch six rail-sea intermodal trains, forming a modern logistics system.

"Behind the growth from zero to 30,000 trips lies the increasingly smooth 'golden channel' known for its high efficiency, low cost and superior service. It represents a deep connection between inland regions and the global market, as well as a vivid practice of Shaanxi's deep integration into the Belt and Road Initiative," said Liu Quan, associate researcher at the Shaanxi Academy of Social Sciences.

According to China Railway Xi'an Group, traditional industrial manufactured products such as textiles, furniture and home appliances remain a major component of exports via the express.

Meanwhile, there was a significant growth in exports of photovoltaic products, new energy vehicles and lithium batteries. The Xi'an international port station is expected to export more than 400,000 vehicles by 2025. This year, BYD alone saw a 28 percent year-on-year increase in commercial vehicle shipments as of May 21.

Imports via the express include grain and oil products from Kazakhstan, as well as coffee, milk powder and chocolate from Europe, and honey, biscuits, ice cream and apple juice from Central Asia.

Imported daily necessities include cosmetics, hygiene products, and maternal and infant supplies from Kazakhstan, Turkiye, Russia, France, Germany, and other countries, according to the group.

From January to July, the total import and export value of the province reached 289.48 billion yuan ($40.45 billion), up 9.6 percent year-on-year, which is 6.1 percentage points higher than the national average. The growth rate ranked 10th in the country, data from Xi'an Customs showed.

Exports amounted to 201.37 billion yuan, up by 13 percent, while imports reached 88.11 billion yuan, an increase of 2.4 percent. Imports and exports with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative totaled 156.6 billion yuan, according to the data from Xi'an Customs.