On the express route to country's logistics leader

Companies from South Korea and Japan have also used Henan's rail services to deliver their goods, Shi said.

The express railway has also benefitted consumers both domestically and in European and Asian markets, who can all enjoy high-quality imported goods at reasonable prices, said Chen Guohui, Party chief of Putian railway station, a major facility in the railway network. He added the rail service had helped promote Zhengzhou to the world.

Henan has taken advantage of its central location to connect with the rest of the country, and has been a strong force in facilitating trade with foreign markets, especially in the countries along the BRI route, experts said.

Based on its "excellent" geographic location, the integrated growth of railway, airline and shipping networks along with online trade has fueled the opening-up of the inland province, said Zheng Zuxuan, deputy dean of the School of Economics at Henan University.

"The force from these smooth connections can promote the economy of the province as well as the whole country," he said.

Wang Haijie, deputy dean of the Business School at Zhengzhou University, added that the vast population of more than 100 million in Henan has also created a promising domestic market which could drive foreign trade and local industry for a long time.