A Europe to China freight train fully loaded with 41 containers carrying 1,192 tons of Russian flour on March 11 arrived at Chifeng Bonded Logistics Center in the city of Chifeng, in northern China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

The event marked a significant extension of an existing Sino-Euro freight service.

In May 2016, the first China-Europe international freight train set off from Chifeng Bonded Logistics Center, passed through the port of Manzhouli to Russia and then on to Europe. To date, the freight train has traversed that route some 30 times and exported over 30,000 tons of local chemical products valued at 240 million yuan ($35.78 million).

The March 11 arrival marked the first time that the freight train transported foreign products back to Chifeng. The Russian flour will be quickly cleared at Chifeng Bonded Logistics Center and will be sold in Chifeng and surrounding areas.

Rail officials say the launch of the return freight train service has greatly shortened customs clearance and inspection times, effectively reduce the costs to importers in marketing, labor and time.

At the same time, officials added that it is also expected to promote the distribution of goods from Russia and European countries to all parts of China.