On January 26, a cold chain train loaded with 130 metric tons of Vietnamese dragon fruit departed from Trang Bom Station in Ho Chi Minh City and arrived at Huaihua International Land Port in Hunan Province, marking the resumption of the China-Vietnam Railway cold chain train service by Huaihua International Land Port after a three-year hiatus as well as a substantial step in the development of the cross-border railway cold chain corridor between Huaihua and Ho Chi Minh City.
The train utilized the “8+1” power generation wagon group of China Railway Special Cargo Logistics Co., Ltd., transporting 130 metric tons of goods valued at approximately RMB750,000. Departing Ho Chi Minh City on January 20, the train took merely six days to finish the journey, significant reducing the transportation time and effectively preserving the freshness of fruits. The successful trial run has garnered high praise from clients, and the second test train is scheduled to depart from Ho Chi Minh City on January 28.
According to an executive with Huaihua International Land Port Changhuai Cold Chain Logistics Co., Ltd., the project operator, the resumption was made possible through strong support from Nanning Branch and Guangzhou Branch of China Railway Special Cargo Logistics Co., Ltd., Vietnam Railway Transportation and Trading Joint Stock Company, Huaihua Customs, Pingxiang Customs, CPC Huaihua Municipal Committee, the People’s Government of Huaihua City, and the Management Committee of Huaihua International Land Port Economic Development Zone.
This successful trial has laid a solid foundation for regular operations in the future. Huaihua International Land Port plans to formally develop the “Hunan-Vietnam Fresh Fruit Corridor” scheduled trains between Huaihua and Ho Chi Minh City, thereby achieving routine and stable cold chain transportation on the China-Vietnam Railway.
The establishment of the “Hunan-Vietnam Fresh Fruit Corridor” will further supplement the ASEAN cross-border cold chain logistics network of Huaihua International Land Port. Notably, the “conditional release” supporting policy for imported fruits jointly implemented by Huaihua Customs and Pingxiang Customs has improved customs clearance efficiency by 20%, providing consumers in Hunan and central China with more convenient and efficient access to imported fruits. The regular operation of cold chain trains will effectively reduce logistics costs, improve transportation efficiency, and enable more high-quality ASEAN fruits to reach the domestic market swiftly.
As a crucial logistics hub for Hunan’s engagement with ASEAN, Huaihua International Land Port has continuously optimized its cross-border cold chain services in recent years. The resumption of the China-Vietnam Railway cold chain train service is another significant step made by Huaihua International Land Port in expanding into the ASEAN market following the stable operation of the China-Laos Railway cold chain trains.
Going forward, Huaihua International Land Port will deepen logistics cooperation with ASEAN countries, diversify imports, enhance service capabilities, strive to become an agricultural product distribution center and cold chain logistics hub targeting ASEAN, and inject new momentum into regional economic development.
(Translated by Professor Yu Jie)