A new Sino-Russian-Sino transportation corridor for cross-border inland trade has been launched between Northeast and East China.

The cross-border inland trade transportation refers to transporting goods from one city to another through a foreign transfer station, which is expected to release the pressure of inland transportation.

For example, if goods are transported from Heilongjiang province in Northern China to the south or east part of China, they should first be sent to Dalian Port or Yingkou Port, 1,300 kilometers away by train or truck. During this period, the goods are usually delayed due to congestion.

However, Vladivostok, Nakhodka and Vostochny in Russia are closer to Heilongjiang province, only 200 to 300 kilometers away.

On March 10, the first customs declaration, two containers of medium density fiberboards, sent from Suifenhe city in Heilongjiang province passed through Vostochny in Russia and finally reached Ningbo Port.

Li Yong, staff member of Ningbo Qida Customs Declaration Co said, "It is the first time our company has carried out cross-border inland transportation service. Compared with the inland routes, the cross-border route reduced the distance by 800 kilometers, saving carriage by 20 percent for every 40-inch container, or roughly 2,000 yuan ($320)." According to Li, these 53 tons containers were worth 120,000 yuan.

Cross-border transportation is also a strategy to revitalize the economy of Northeast China as well as promote trade contacts between the northeast and the south. According to China's General Administration of Customs, Shanghai, Ningbo and Huangpu are the only three accepted ports to adopt cross-border inland trade transportation in China.