(Yicai Global)  Aug. 28 -- The first regular two-way China-Europe freight train connecting China's southeastern port city of Xiamen, Fujian province with Russia's capital of Moscow has officially opened.

The first train departed Xiamen's Haicang railroad freight yard bound for Moscow on the night of Aug. 25 after undergoing quick customs clearance formalities in Xiamen, China News Agency reported

The train will travel via Erenhot in China's northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Dzamiin-Uud, Mongolia with a total journey of 9,960 kilometers lasting about 13 days. In the initial operation, a train with 40 to 50 carriages will depart from Xiamen approximately every 10 days, and will then embark on a journey back every week starting from October.

Xiamen's total imports and exports to Russia reached USD802.5 million (CNY5.35 billion) in the first seven months of this year, up 53 percent from last year. The opening of the regular two-way China-Europe freight trains will further expand Xiamen's import and export trade to Russia, and form a Xiamen-centric logistics hub for trade with the northern giant, data show.

To give full play to the advantages of Xiamen's port and guarantee the smooth operation of China-Europe freight trains, Xiamen Customs has optimized its 'sea-railway combined transportation' supervision mode, which has greatly improved the efficiency of customs clearance between maritime ports and railroad ports. Local customs also provides clearance consulting services to guide enterprises on customs clearance.