NANCHANG — Freight train services have been launched between Nanchang in East China's Jiangxi province and Hanoi in Vietnam.

A train loaded with auto parts and office equipment departed from Henggang Railway Station in Nanchang Wednesday morning, marking the launch of the service.

The train will pass through Pingxiang Pass in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and travel to Vietnam.

The total length of the route is more than 1,700 kilometers.

The journey will take around five days, 15 days less than the original route through sea. The cost is only half that of road transport.

The train service will become regular next year.

"The new service will promote economic and trade cooperation between landlocked Chinese provinces, such as Jiangxi, with Southeast Asia," said Ma Zhihui, an economist with Jiangxi Provincial Academy of Social Sciences.

By launching freight train and flight services, landlocked Chinese provinces can exploit the potential of the Belt and Road Initiative and become international logistics centers.