A series of special trains for New Year's goods have been cleared in order. Chinese Spring Festival couplets, household appliances and Russian chocolates, red wine have traveled in both directions on the Silk Road, making the basket of New Year's goods of the people of the two countries full of foreign warmth, becoming the best footnote for people to people connections under the the Belt and Road Initiative.

During the Spring Festival this year, 12 special trains for Chinese New Year goods were launched. Through innovative measures such as constant temperature cold chain, Chinese and Russian New Year goods were fresh and direct, which not only protected the traditional flavor of the year, but also demonstrated the development achievements of trade facilitation under the the Belt and Road framework.

This is my 8th time sending New Year's goods to Russia this year! "At six o'clock in the morning, at the Manzhouli highway port, truck driver Lao Zhang sighed as he inspected the Spring Festival couplets, Chinese knots, and nut gift boxes on his truck. After ten years of cross-border freight transportation, he witnessed firsthand the changes in the Silk Road New Year's goods trade: "Now there is a dedicated channel for New Year's goods, with priority inspection for fresh and New Year's goods, and procedures can be completed in half an hour, much smoother than in previous years

New Year's goods special train "acceleration"

The busyness of railway ports is even higher. Around the Chinese New Year this year, the Manzhouli China Europe freight train operated a total of 12 special trains for annual goods, with a constant temperature and cold chain throughout the journey to ensure the best quality of both countries' characteristic annual goods. The port customs have introduced facilitation measures such as "early declaration" and "two-step declaration", and arranged dedicated personnel to guard the annual customs clearance window, truly achieving "zero delay and zero detention".

Li Juan, a merchant who has been trading with Russia in Manzhouli for fifteen years, has a deep understanding: "China's Little New Year candies and window decorations, Russia's purple skin candies and nesting dolls, are all popular goods in the markets of both countries. This year, my inventory has doubled compared to last year, thanks to the increasingly convenient cross-border logistics

Mutual trade 'neighborly sentiment'

Entering the Manzhouli Mutual Trade Zone, border residents from China and Russia shuttle back and forth with shopping baskets, and the cries of Chinese and Russian are heard one after another. The handmade dumplings and dried preserved meat brought by Chinese border residents complement the unique cheese and vodka displayed by Russian border residents. This face-to-face transaction method fills cross-border trade with the warmth of neighbors.

Chinese New Year customs are particularly lively! "Russian vendor Ivan smiled and said. He comes to the mutual trade zone every year during the Chinese New Year, and this year he specially bought more New Year goods such as Spring Festival couplets and lucky letters," to bring back to Russia and experience the Chinese New Year flavor with his family

E-commerce expands the 'New Silk Road'

The popularity of New Year's goods trade has also given rise to new business models. The logistics, warehousing, packaging and other industries are entering the peak season, and many local young people returning home have joined the New Year's goods delivery and e-commerce live streaming teams, allowing China Russia Silk Road New Year goods to enter a broader market through online channels.

The Silk Road New Year's goods e-commerce zone created in Manzhouli allows mainland consumers to buy Russian New Year's goods without leaving their homes through live streaming sales, while also allowing Chinese New Year's customs products to be sold to Russia. Online and offline linkage enables the Silk Road New Year's flavor to spread further and wider.

Offering sacrifices to the stove and bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new are traditional customs of the Chinese people. Nowadays, the New Year freight trains speeding through Manzhouli Port are crossing national borders and becoming a bond that connects the emotions of the two peoples. As the Spring Festival approaches, this "Nian Wei Silk Road" will continue to heat up, so that the achievements of the the Belt and Road cooperation can be integrated into the reunion dinner table of thousands of families of the two countries.Editor/Yang Meiling