China on Monday welcomed Turkey's 1st China-bound freight train from Istanbul last Friday, saying its operation is “a vivid illustration of China's opening-up and its opportunities”.

Photo: CCTV news app

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a daily press briefing.

According to Hua, the freight train will carry 42 containers across 8,693 kilometers and arrive in Northwest China’s Xi 'an city in about 12 days.

Against the global pandemic, the land transport channel showed strong momentum, which facilitates the cross-border flow of goods and services and the resumption of work and production, playing the role as a new artery of international transport, Hua said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of China-Europe freight trains has risen against the trend, which has become “a life channel”, “a bond of destiny” and “a team of iron and steel camels” in stabilizing the international supply chain, the spokesperson said.

Hua stressed that the continuous development of China's economy and the Chinese people’s aspirations for a better life will generate more demand for diversified and high-quality products, technologies and services from around the world, which will provide a broader market of opportunity for all countries, as well as a stronger driving force for the steady growth of the world economy.

"We welcome all countries to seize China's opportunities and further strengthen mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation with China,” Hua said.

(Compiled by Peng Temin)