China has launched its first UK-bound freight train from the city of Yiwu in Zhejiang province to London.

The train, which is jointly operated by the Yiwu government and China Railway Container Transport Corp., Ltd., a subsidiary of the state-owned China Railway Corporation, set off from Yiwu West Station and will leave China at Alanshankou, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium, France and the English Channel before arriving at Barking in East London.

The journey, which is over 12,000km long, is expected to take approximately 18 days.

According to China Railway, goods carried on the train include household commodities, apparel, textiles and suitcases.

Yiwu is also the origin of various China-Europe and China-Central Asia trains.

The new link to the UK is part of China’s Belt and Road initiative and will strengthen trade ties between China and West Europe, according to China Railway.