Beijing's first China-Europe freight train this year departed Wednesday, fully loaded with home appliances, tires and other goods bound for Moscow, Russia's capital.

"Regular operation of these trains will promote international capacity cooperation and strengthen Beijing's trade links with Russia and other neighboring countries," said Wang Chuanmeng, chairman of Beijing New Land Port Group, the train's operator. "As a hub for advanced manufacturing and emerging industries, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region will enjoy stable support for local exporters looking to expand into international markets through this service."

With 90 twenty-foot equivalent units valued at more than 4.9 million yuan($670,000), the train will exit China via the Manzhouli port before heading westward to Moscow. Along the roughly 9,000-kilometer route, cargo will be redistributed to stops including Novosibirsk and Ulyanovsk, and the whole journey is expected to take about 16 days.

Liu Shouzhi, manager of the logistics department at Beijing Railway Logistic Center, said that the service runs on a "priority scheme" — priority scheduling, loading and clearance — to ensure swift and efficient operation.