Trade links between China and Europe have been strengthened by the addition of a new rail freight service.

Deutsche Bahn confirmed that the first cargo journey between the Chinese city of Zhengzhou and Hamburg in Germany was recently completed and this could pave the way for greater transportation between the two economic powerhouses.

The 51-container train was organised by the Zhengzhou International Land Port Development and Construction Co in cooperation with DB Schenker. In the past two years, DB Schenker has run 300 freight trains to and from China, but this was the first trip between these two particular destinations.

Dr Rudiger Grube, chairman of the Management Board of Deutsche Bahn AG, highlighted the importance of maintaining strong links with the Asian country.

"The growing Chinese goods traffic, together with the ongoing shift from production-intensive industries to the Chinese hinterland, offers a lot of potential," he commented.

A recent study by IBISWorld showed that revenue in China's freight transportation sector has grown by an impressive 7.5 per cent annually over the past five years - further underlining just how crucial this market has become.