On March 18th, at the railway port of the International Mail Exchange Office located in Chongqing Western Logistics Park in Tuanjie Village, Shapingba District, Chongqing, a Customs official was checking the container. “459 bags, 6728.8kg. Ok. Open the container.” After having checked the delivery bill of the despatch, the Customs official asked the postal staff of China-Europe Railway Transport project (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe) to open the container for Customs transfer inspection. The mail was loaded into the container again after the completion of inspection and scanning. It is reported that these commodities are mainly bought from China online by foreigners, covering daily necessities, 3C products, etc. They departed from Chongqing on March 19^th, transported by China-Europe freight train (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe), and will arrive in Lithuania and Poland in about ten days from where the goods will be further dispatched to other European countries.

This container of mails is from Beijing International Mail Exchange Office. Before the novel coronavirus outbreak, the airmail across the country is usually sent to Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai first, then exported via international passenger flights. Affected by the epidemic, international flights have been reduced sharply, which ails airmail transportation intended to Europe from Beijing dramatically. China Post, taking full advantage of the coordinated postal network, diverts the above-mentioned mails to Chongqing and transports them urgently by China-Europe freight train (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe).

Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe route is the earliest pioneer to commence China-Europe railway transportation. It has the leading driving force, the highest utilization rate and the greatest influence of all China-Europe freight trains. Chongqing Postal Branch exported 44 containers of mails in 2019, ranking first in China in respect of China-Europe railway mail transportation (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe). This route has maintained a smooth operation amid the epidemic. To date, Chongqing Postal Branch has shipped 130,000 pieces of mail via Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe route. To ensure the smooth dispatch of mails bound for Europe, Chongqing Postal Branch has coordinated with Port Logistics Office of the People’s Government of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Customs and YUXINOU (Chong Qing) Logistics Co., LTD, and received a great deal of support from them. With joint efforts, treating special issues in a special way amid COVID-19 pandemic, all sides concerned have specifically deployed the work to ensure the smooth Customs transfer and transportation of the mail.

Currently, Beijing International Mail Exchange Office is reported to operate two mail container vehicles to Chongqing on a daily basis, forwarding 12 tons of international outgoing mail, over 60,000 items.