The first freight train from Yiwu to Moscow, Russia set off on a 13-day journey on Jan 30. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

The first freight train between Yiwu and Moscow, capital of Russia, left the famous commodity distribution hub in China's Zhejiang province on Jan 30.

The train, with 100 standard containers of small consumer goods made in Yiwu including suitcases, bags, sockets and hangers, will reach Moscow after a 10,150-kilometer journey in 13 days.

The new freight route, an extension of Yiwu-Madrid rail link, has more stops on the journey to meet market demand. It has opened up an international logistics channel to Russia, marking an important milestone in bilateral cooperation between China and Russia under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

There will be two or three freight trains running on the new rail route every week. Once the operation becomes regular, it will further promote the connection between China and Europe and propel the upgrading of the trade and cooperation of the two regions.

Yiwu has been a vital hub of the China-Europe Express due to its prosperous commodity industry. The routes linking the city and European cities are facilitating the development of the Belt and Road Initiative in Zhejiang. With the increase of China-Europe routes, the East China's province is seeing more imports and exports.

Since 2014, Yiwu has opened up freight routes to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan in Middle Asia, Madrid in Spain, Teheran in Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Minsk in Belarus, Riga in Latvia, London in the UK and Prague in the Czech Republic. It has the most China-Europe freight routes among Chinese cities.

A total of 100 containers of consumer goods made in Yiwu, Zhejiang province are transported to Russia. [Photo/zgyww.com]