Two new all-cargo international routes, connecting northwest China's Shaanxi Province to the Belgian city of Liege and Budapest, the capital of Hungary, took flight this week, marking a significant boost to trade and cultural exchanges between China and Europe.
The two routes will operate two round-trip flights weekly from Xi'an, the provincial capital of Shaanxi, with 104 flights per year.
The inaugural flight to Budapest took off on Saturday. The route is expected to bring about 6,000 tons of international cargo to Xi'an annually.
Hungary is located in the central Europe, and its capital, Budapest, is the country's primary political, commercial, and transportation hub as well as its largest city.
Meanwhile, the launch of the Xi'an-Liege cargo route on Thursday has also established a key link.
Liege is one of Europe's major air cargo hubs, offering round-the-clock freight services and playing a vital role in facilitating trade and cultural exchanges between China and Europe.
"For the Liege route, we mainly transport cross-border e-commerce goods, as well as general trade goods like apparel, electronics and instruments. On the return leg from Liege to Xi'an, the cargo mainly includes European pharmaceuticals, precision instruments, food and international express packages," explained Sue Mengxue, deputy general manager of the Comprehensive Logistics Division at China West Airport Group.
The new cargo routes are expected to further enhance commercial and cultural exchanges between Shaanxi and Europe.
To date, the Airport New City in Xixian New Area of Shaanxi has partnered with the West Airport Group to launch a total of 47 all-cargo air routes, further expanding the air cargo network.
New air cargo routes link China with Belgium, Hungary
Truck drivers and their cargoes sought refuge in a Shanghai activity hub as Typhoon Bebinca, the strongest typhoon to hit the city in decades, made landfall on Monday morning, unleashing heavy rains and winds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour.
In the Pudong District, situated on the southeastern tip of Shanghai, the impact of Typhoon Bebinca was stark, with trees and road signs uprooted, construction sites disrupted, and bicycles scattered across the ground.
Shanghai is not prone to strong typhoons, but local authorities have made emergency plans.
In Lingang Special Area, an activity hub was transformed into a temporary shelter for over 130 truck drivers and their cargoes.
"With such strong winds, it's not safe to park my truck on the street. Trees could fall. Parking here is a safer choice. The service is good here. It's clean, and it also provides food. We can take a shower here," said Wang Shaodong, a truck driver from east China's Anhui Province.
"The Donghai Bridge has been closed, as the typhoon is approaching. That's why we came here. They provide us with bedding, and air conditioners were turned on. So we are staying here. There are also meals downstairs," said Gong Xiangge, a hazardous cargo driver from east China's Shandong Province.
"We call these truck drivers 'men living on wheels.' The 13th typhoon [of this year] brought gales, with maximum wind speed reaching 36.9 meters per second, so danger may come at any time. So staying on the side of the street is unsafe for both trucks and drivers," said Fan Jianrong, deputy director of Lingang Special Area Investment Holding Group.
Although traffic resumed on all roads and bridges across Shanghai starting from 20:00 on Monday, precautions are still in place as Typhoon Pulasan, the 14th of the year, has formed in the northeastern Pacific and could follow a similar path to Typhoon Bebinca.
The director of the center said that the shelter remains open to those in need, ensuring that assistance is readily available for individuals affected by the poor weather.
Truck drivers seek shelter as powerful typhoon hits Shanghai
