Chinese authorities on Sunday launched a freight train route from country's southern city of Guangzhou to Russia's central Kaluga Region, local media reported.

BEIJING (Sputnik) – A cargo train left Guangzhou to travel some 7,150 miles to reach the logistics center in the Vorsino industrial park located near Kaluga in two weeks, the Xinhua news agency reported. The new route is the latest one launched to boost trade relations with the countries situated along the Silk Road trade corridor, the media outlet added. According to the news service, the route between Guangzhou and Vorsino will save 30 days if to compare with shipping and some 80 percent of cost if to compare with air transportation. In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the construction of a new Silk Road to facilitate the direct flow of goods from the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea. The project is intended to connect China with Europe and strengthen economic ties between Asia, Europe and the Gulf states.

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