Huaihua International Land Port: Riding the RCEP momentum to chart a new chapter in inland opening-up
"We also hope to further expand our network through the second RCEP Economic and Trade Expo, leveraging resource sharing and complementary strengths to effectively drive the high-quality development of Huaihua International Land Port," said Xie Lei, deputy general manager of Huaihua International Land Port Development Co., Ltd., in a recent interview.
As preparations for the second Hunan (Huaihua) RCEP Economic and Trade Expo progress, Huaihua International Land Port is injecting new momentum into regional economic and trade cooperation with its unique advantages.
As the only intersection of the Western Land-Sea Corridor and the Shanghai-Kunming International Trade Corridor in central China, Huaihua has seized the opportunities brought by the RCEP agreement, leveraging the strategic platform of Huaihua International Land Port to deepen ties with RCEP member states and ASEAN countries. To date, the port has launched seven international freight train routes, including those to Laos and Vietnam, connecting 158 ports and stations across 52 countries and regions. In 2024, the China-Laos freight trains made 351 trips, a surge of 364.58%, ranking first in central China. As of April 6, 2025, the number of China-Laos train trips has already reached 284, marking a 40.59% year-on-year increase.
Xie noted that since last year, Huaihua International Land Port has been included in China’s national policy for the rise of central regions in the new era. It has also been designated as a port eligible for export tax rebates and granted a railway port code, significantly enhancing its service capacity and openness.
Capitalizing on its geographical advantages, Huaihua International Land Port has strengthened collaboration with coastal ports, facilitating the establishment of inland ports in Huaihua by Beibu Gulf Port, Guangzhou Port, Yantian Port, and Yangpu Port. By slashing customs clearance times and leveraging RCEP tariff concessions, the port has reduced overall costs for import-export enterprises. Hunan Namei Luggage Accessories Co., Ltd., specializing in mid-to-high-end luggage handle components, achieved an output value of 15 million yuan in 2024. "We chose Huaihua for its logistics advantages, pro-business policies, and lower labor costs," said Danny Li, the company’s representative. "Shipping from Guangdong to Southeast Asia could cost over 10,000 yuan, but rail transport from here to ASEAN countries cuts expenses to just a few thousand."
The formation of Huaihua’s "dual corridor" advantage has driven the integrated development of the international land port with industries and urban growth. Cross-border e-commerce has emerged as a new growth engine for the city’s foreign trade.
At Hunan Chiniu E-Commerce Co., Ltd., staff were seen coordinating with Russian markets via online platforms. The company sells domestic appliances, daily goods, and other products to Russia, generating over 7 million yuan in sales last year. This year, it has ramped up R&D investments, utilizing RCEP regional overseas warehouses and an established operational system to promote Huaihua-made exports. "Some of our clients have already expanded their orders year after year by leveraging RCEP regional transit warehouses and the traffic advantages of Russian platforms like Ozon and WB," said Xiao Wen, the company’s general manager.
Huaihua has also established a "cross-border e-commerce + overseas warehouse" linkage mechanism, building an RCEP-focused e-commerce industrial park and setting up multiple overseas warehouses in Thailand, Laos, and other countries. Over the past three years, cross-border e-commerce transactions have grown at an average annual rate of 61.07%. The inaugural Hunan (Huaihua) RCEP Expo in 2023 attracted over 1,600 enterprises from 15 countries, resulting in 113 signed projects and creating a platform for businesses to explore ASEAN markets.
Hunan Haiyue E-Commerce Co., Ltd., specializing in China-Africa cross-border trade, serves 20 million consumers through overseas warehouses and local logistics. Within three months of entering the industrial park, its sales exceeded 10 million yuan, with projections reaching 100 million yuan by 2025. "The second expo offers new opportunities for Huaihua’s foreign trade enterprises to explore ASEAN markets and expand operations," said Hu Chunqiang, the company’s general manager.
Currently, the Huaihua International Land Port (Cross-Border) E-Commerce Industrial Park has attracted 19 enterprises, achieving nearly 200 million yuan in sales in Q1 2025, including over 30 million yuan in RCEP-focused cross-border transactions. Tan Ya’an, deputy general manager of the park’s management company, stated that the park will seize the expo’s opportunities to attract more RCEP-oriented e-commerce, service, and logistics firms, fostering an industrial cluster effect.
By capitalizing on RCEP and centering on Huaihua International Land Port, the city has built key infrastructure such as the West Railway Freight Yard, Customs Supervision Zone, and Smart Cold Chain Logistics Center, along with multimodal transport hubs and dedicated railway lines. From 2022 to 2024, Huaihua’s import-export volume with other RCEP members grew at an average annual rate of 87.23%, ranking first in Hunan for three consecutive years. Outbound investment surged by 259.3% annually, with international freight trains exceeding 1,000 trips, establishing a new inland opening-up model of "land port hub + regulatory innovation + industrial synergy."
(Translated by Qu Qiongxue)