A China-Europe freight train recently arrived at Zhangjiagang port after a 19-day journey from Hamburg, Germany, carrying 18 tons of water-based coating materials. It is the first order which the international freight train has shipped to Zhangjiagang port.

The train took 17 days to reach Xi'an, Shaanxi province and another two days to reach Zhangjiagang, 20 days faster than if the good had been shipped by sea.

The batch of cargo consists of eco-friendly water-based paint produced by the German headquarters factory of Schulz Coating Company. The company, founded in Germany in 1966, established its Chinese headquarters in Zhangjiagang.

Schulz China is currently one of China's three major imported water-based coating suppliers, accounting for 20 percent of China's market share. It is expected to achieve sales revenue of 200 million yuan ($28.98 million) this year.

Official data show that the city's total value of imports and exports to Belt and Road countries reached 39.55 billion yuan last year, a year-on-year increase of 6.4 percent. Imports specifically amounted to 16.47 billion yuan.