Vehicles for export park at the inspection area of Horgos port, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

A freight train loaded with 50 standard containers of cargo left Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for Tashkent in Uzbekistan on Sunday, marking the launch of the freight train service linking Kashgar and Tashkent, Chinanews.com reported on Sunday.

The freight train is expected to arrive in Tashkent in 12 days after traveling 4,500 kilometers via the Horgos port in Xinjiang.

Featuring unique geographical advantages, Kashgar has been dedicated to actively integrating into the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in recent years to further expand the region's opening up. According to statistics, the imports and exports between Kashgar and the Belt and Road (B&R) countries surged 68.8 percent year on year to 8.75 billion yuan in the first two months this year.

While opening up a new international trade and logistics channel to central Asia, the launch of the freight train route also strengthens the economic and trade exchanges between Kashgar and countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt.