China announced that it has launched a rail-sea transport freight train from Shaanxi province in Northwestern China to India. 

Beijing's State Council said a freight train carrying a total of 50 containers of solar panels and solar modules departed from the Xi'an international port station on February 14, heading for the Huangdao Port in East China's coastal city Qingdao, and then transporting the goods to India by ferry.

"This is the first Sino-Indian rail-sea freight train launched from Northwest China's Shaanxi province this year, according to the China Railway Xi'an Group Co Ltd.," a statement released by state media said.

It added that the solar products manufactured by a company in Shaanxi will mainly be used for the construction of local solar power stations in India.

Meanwhile, it said that it will take about 20 days to transport the cargo to India via the rail-sea transport route.

"The serious global epidemic situation still hinders the original transportation channels, therefore, the company chose the rail-sea combined mode to transport goods to destinations more efficiently," said Wang Yanli, marketing director of the company, Xinhua reported.

Bai Kuanfeng, director of the station, said that since the beginning of the year, the China Railway Xi'an Group Co Ltd has further strengthened the operation of trains in international freight transport to ensure efficient loading and transportation.