“We will leverage the advantages of the Jize Bonded Zone and Caozhuangzhen Freight Station. Through deepening collaboration with Vietnamese customs and railway authorities, we hope to reduce logistics costs and attract regional cargo to this route,“ he said.

　　The rail upgrades align with a strong start for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei foreign trade this year, which saw exports hit 207.05 billion yuan ($28.7 billion) in the first two months — a record high for the period, according to China Media Group.

　　Jize county, which sits about 400 kilometers southwest of downtown Beijing, attaches great importance to Sino-Vietnamese economic and trade cooperation.

　　Leveraging Caozhuangzhen Freight Station's infrastructure, the county has rolled out supportive measures to facilitate trade channels with neighboring countries and the regular operation of ASEAN-bound freight trains.

　　Since the launch of the “Jize-Hanoi“ rail link in May last year, a total of 22 freight trains have been dispatched.

　　This year, through proactive coordination, the ASEAN freight train — previously rerouted through Nanning Railway Station in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region — now operates directly from Jize, Hebei to Hanoi, shortening the transit time.

　　It is expected that a regular train service to ASEAN countries will operate once a week later this year, transporting industrial products such as fasteners, rubber flooring, PVC boards and lubricants, alongside agricultural products, according to Gong.

　　“We will explore further measures to reduce logistics costs, optimize routes and boost efficiency, with plans to gradually increase the frequency,“ Gong said, adding that expansion to other countries, such as Thailand and Laos, is also under consideration.

　　The efforts to deepen ASEAN integration have delivered tangible results.