On April 16, the two-way RCEP-Beibu Gulf Port-Henan sea-rail intermodal trains from Guangxi to Henan traveling through the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor were launched in Qinzhou, Guangxi province and Luohe, Henan province.

The train departing from Qinzhou Railway Station was loaded with 27 containers of Thai tapioca starch, while the train departing from Luohe Station consisted of 25 containers of aluminum wheels and other goods. It is expected that in four days, the two freight trains, which enjoy RCEP tariff concessions, will arrive in Luohe and Qinzhou respectively.

To date, 12 of the 15 RCEP member states have implemented the world's largest free trade agreement. More than 2,000 kinds of goods, such as tapioca starch in Thailand and cod liver oil in Singapore, enjoy preferential tariff policies through the RCEP, with unlimited business opportunities emerging.

At present, ASEAN is Henan's second largest trading partner. The goods exported from Henan to ASEAN are transported by rail to Qinzhou Port and then to ASEAN countries by sea, which is about seven days shorter than the original route. There will be a greater increase in foreign trade containers from Henan and the central China region to ASEAN through sea-rail intermodal trains.

The RCEP—Beibu Gulf Port—Henan sea-railway intermodal trains launch on April 16. [Photo by Liang Yunguang/WeChat account: gh_df8bc987e060]