Tibetannet

A new transnational railway line for cargo linking Haidong, Qinghai province, Shigatse, Tibet autonomous region, and Kathmandu, Nepal, opened recently. [Photo provided to Chinadaily.com.cn]

A new transnational railway line for cargo connecting Haidong, Qinghai province, Shigatse, Tibet autonomous region and Kathmandu, Nepal, opened recently, according to China Railway Qinghai-Tibet Group.

The opening ceremony for the new service was held last week in the Ping'an district of Haidong, making a major breakthrough for the city's international road and rail freight network. It represents a new trade channel between Qinghai and countries in southern Asia.

With a length of about 2,800 kilometers, the new corridor will rely on rail between Haidong and Shigatse. Freight from Shigatse to the ports of Gyirong and Zhangmu, and from those to Kathmandu will be trucked by road.

Yao Jianghong, an official at the news office of China Railway Qinghai-Tibet Group, said cargo will mainly include daily necessities, medical materials and agricultural products.

"Thirty rail cars will be loaded with more than 1,000 tons of cargo valued at approximately 1.8 million yuan ($282,000) on every six-day-long single trip," Yao said.

Qinghai province is a strategic gateway connecting Europe and Asia and a key bridge linking China's southwestern and northwestern regions, she said. "Qinghai province has the advantage of location, resources, industry, labor, commerce and trade in this wave of development of the Belt and Road Initiative."