Containers carrying oil-rich sunflower seeds imported from Kazakhstan are being loaded in Urad Rear Banner on Sept 14. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The China-Europe Railway Express train "Urad Rear Banner" is understood to have really boosted trade between China and the Central Asian Republic of Kazakhstan, injecting new vitality into regional economic development.

The train, which started on Jan 12, departs from the Urad Rear Banner, administered by Bayannuur city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region and heads to destinations in Central Asia and Europe.

Its opening is said to have played an essential role in boosting sunflower seed processing and trade in Bayannuur city.

Bayannuur imports oil-rich sunflower seeds from Kazakhstan for oil extraction and exports instant food made from sunflower seeds to that country.

A view of a China-Europe Railway Express running between Urad Rear Banner and Moscow, Russia [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

As the largest sunflower oil production center in China, dozens of grain and oil production enterprises in Bayannuur are involved in the processing business.

From January to August, 17 trains traveling from Semey, Kazakhstan to Bayannuur shipped 24,592 metric tons of oil sunflower seeds worth 168.81 million yuan ($25.33 million).

During the same period, a total of 9,035 tons of goods such as small commodities were exported to Central Asia and Eastern Europe by the China-Europe Railway Express, generating trade worth 69.23 million yuan.

Moving forwards, Urad Rear Banner is planning to build itself up as an international land port by taking full advantage of the China-Europe Railway Express.

Sunflowers planted in Bayannuur are in full bloom, the sunflower seeds produced in the city are of great quality. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]