The Roundtable Conference on Cooperation and Exchange among Friendship Cities along China-Europe (Asia) Railway Express Lines opened in Nanjing on November 15.

Some 70 representatives from provinces, states and cities in various countries including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Laos, Romania, Hungary, and the Netherlands participated in the meeting, under the theme of “deepening interconnectivity and jointly building a better future.”

As one of the pioneers in these services, Jiangsu’s five cities now operate 24 routes connecting with 80 cities in 26 countries across Europe and Asia, leading the nation in both aspects.

Wu Hui, deputy director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Division at the province’s Department of Commerce, said Jiangsu has established economic and trade ties with more than 230 countries and regions, and the province’s imports and exports have ranked second in China for 20 consecutive years.

From January to September this year, Jiangsu's trade with countries along the Belt and Road amounted to $161.21 billion, accounting for 29.4% of the provincial total in the period.

Li Ming, chairman of Jiangsu International Rail Freight Express Company Limited, said the number of freight train trips in 2022 reached 1,973. And in the first ten months this year, the number already hit 1,854, marking a 14.2% increase.

Furthermore, Jiangsu and BRI countries now boast 146 pairs of friendship or sister city relationships, leading the country in quantity and activity.