China announced a new freight train link to Vietnam as part of what it called the "New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor" expected to further facilitate trade between western China and Southeast Asia.

Chinese state media reported that the first freight train left Guoyuan Port in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on March 26 for Vietnam's Hanoi province, marking the launch of a new freight train route between China and Vietnam.

It said all the products loaded in the train — 43 containers of engines, tires, printing paper, and others — were produced in Chongqing, with a total worth of more than US$3.9 million.

"Previously, most of the goods from Chongqing and neighboring Sichuan Province to Vietnam were transported by water via Shanghai and other ports, which takes more than 20 days," Xinhua said.

"The new route shortens the transport time from Chongqing to Vietnam to 4 to 5 days. It is not only time- and labor-saving, but also safer and more efficient."

The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor is a trade and logistics passage jointly built by Singapore and provincial-level regions of western China. Chongqing Municipality is the center of operation for the corridor.