First direct Chengdu-Lodz freight train arrives in Poland in 14 days

THE first direct rail freight service linking China and Poland set off from Sichuan's capital of Chengdu two weeks ago has arrived at Poland's Lodz railway station, reports from Xinhua.

The freight carried mostly electrical appliances. After going through the customs clearance procedures, these goods will be distributed to various destinations in Europe, reported, Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza.

The cargo train service is operated by HATRANS, a Lodz-based logistics company. A Hatrans official said, ocean shipping is usually the way of moving cargo between Poland and China mainly, but it takes at least 45 days.

In addition, many factories in China are located inland. The products needed to be carried to ports before they can be loaded onto ships and set off abroad. In comparison, direct rail transport is a cost saver and more efficient.

Experts argue that the competitive edge of Lodz, an industrial city in central Poland, is becoming more apparent, and that it will soon become the first choice for Poland in attracting investment from China.

Lodz deputy mayor Marek Ciesla said his city, the third largest in Poland, will grow to become an important hub for the European economy and perhaps for the entire world.

At the end of 2011, the Polish president visited China and China's Premier Wen Jiabao visited Poland last year. The visits deepened cooperation between the two countries and stimulated trade.

Lodz delegations have been attending a number of China's international trade meetings in China in recent years. The new direct cargo train service was partly the result of these meetings.

The freight train offers convenience for China-made products' presence in the Polish market and also facilitates the importing of Polish foodstuffs into China.

As of the end of 2011, there have been products of six Polish manufacturers imported into China. In the first half of 2012. Poland's meat export to China valued US$415,000. In comparison, China's meat import from Denmark were valued at $155 million and those from Spain valued $93 million.

In 2011, Polish exports to China climbed 20 per cent while imports from China grew 15 per cent. Meanwhile, exports from Bulgaria to China surged 73.7 per cent, those from Lithuania jumped 72 per cent and those from Portugal 64 per cent.

Analysts said that the above-mentioned figures indicate that there is vast potential underlying the trade between China and Poland. In view of this, government and enterprises from both sides are seeking to deepen and widen their scope of cooperation.