A Chinese truck caravan carrying containers with goods such as furniture, carpets and books traded between China and EU member states took off Tuesday from Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, to Europe along the Silk Road.

This is a pilot program that aims to show that large quantities of goods can also be transferred through road transportation.

The program was launched by the China Road and Transport Association (CRTA), the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the UN Economic Commission for Europe and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

A ceremony was held in Beijing during the third Euro-Asian Transport Conference to mark the launching of the program.

Wang Limei, secretary-general of the CRTA, said the caravan is scheduled to reach its destination, Brussels, on October 17.

Starting from Urumqi, the caravan will be transferred to Kazakhstani drivers in Helgus, a Chinese city on the border with Kazakhstan, and then will continue its way across Russia, Ukraine, Baltic States, Poland, Germany and Belgium, she said.

"This is a real life demonstration of what can daily be done already today by commercial road vehicles between Asia and Europe and vice versa and what can be further achieved by working together for a better future," said IRU President Paul Laeremans.

Yao Deming, CRTA president, said the expedition is part of a Chinese effort to promote barrier-free road transportation between China and Europe.

The Silk Road was an ancient trade route linking Asia and Europe.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2005)