A test run of the China-Mongolia-Russia international road freight route was launched on August 18. Tianjin Port -- the biggest in North China -- was the point of departure. It is anticipated that a seven days’journey will be required to reach Russia.

The fleet, consisting of three trucks from each of the three countries, will drive along the third road of the Asian Highway Network.

The whole journey is of 2,152 kilometers, of which 900 are within China, 1,012 Mongolia and 240 Russia.

Tianjin Port has become an increasingly important part of the economic corridor between the three countries. Mongolia has become increasingly reliant on the port as 95 percent of its seaborne cargo is transferred there.

The test run will lay a foundation for an international road transfer network. The new route will promote economic trade among the three countries and assure establishment of the China-Mongolia-Russia international economic corridor.

Yu Chun, vice general manager of Tianjin Transportation Group Binhai Co., Ltd., said if the pilot run is successful the transport time required from Tianjin Port to Mongolia will be decreased to three days from the original five.

Jin Surong, an official of the National Center for Automobile Transportation of Mongolia, said the new route will make it more convenient for Mongolia to trade goods at Tianjin Port and freight to Mongolia will be able to arrive directly at Ulan Bator without a double transfer.

The test run is sponsored by the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Transportation Development of Mongolia and the Ministry of Transportation of Russia.