(Yicai Global) Aug 8 -- China Railway Express has included Moscow to the list of destinations  along the Zhengzhou-Europe Railway Express route from Central Henan  province to Hamburg, Germany, in order to increase trade between China  and Russia. 

The first train from Moscow to Zhengzhou has departed and vice versa, with the final destination of Hanoi in Vietnam, Xinhua News Agency reported today.

In July 2013, China  Railway launched the first train on the more than 10,000-kilometer route  from Zhengzhou to Hamburg to cut the one-month journey usually made by  ships down to about 15 days. 

Russia has been counting  China as its biggest trading partner for nine consecutive years on an  annual trade volume exceeding USD100 billion. Machinery, steel,  electronics and plastic products are among the popular exports to Europe  while China imports food and wine.  

The route crossing Henan  province has carried a total value of USD10 billion in shipments in over  2,360 trains during the slightly more than six years ended Aug. 5,  according to Henan Business Daily.

Editor: Emmi Laine