JINAN -- A demonstration area in East China for local economic and trade cooperation between China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) handled more China-Europe freight trains in the first eight months of 2022, local customs said.

The demonstration area in the city of Qingdao, Shandong province, saw 523 such freight trains in the period, up 46.1 percent year-on-year, according to Jiaozhou customs in Qingdao.

The service has further broadened the channels for deepening exchanges and cooperation between the province and SCO countries, as well as between the province and countries along the Belt and Road.

The demonstration area now operates 17 international freight train routes, linking the province with 51 cities in 22 countries.