Western China's Chongqing shaping up as key trade hub between Europe and Southeast Asia

A new dimension to the burgeoning trade between China and Europe is the huge volume of goods now being carried overland through Central Asia to the western area of the world's second-largest economy.

The rail link between Chongqing and Duisburg, Germany, which opened in 2015 and can carry goods along the 11,179-kilometer route in 13 days at its fastest, is now a vital artery of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Greater trade and economic cooperation between Europe and China is therefore key to Premier Li Keqiang's six-day visit to Bulgaria and Germany, which began on July 5.

Chongqing's Cuntan Port in the Liangjiang New Area. Chen Lixing / For China Daily

An aerial view of the Guoyuan Port in Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing. Zhang Jinghui and Wan Nan / For China Daily