After its 18-day journey, the first freight train from China to Britain arrived in London.

The train departed east China's Yiwu city in Zhejiang province and traveled some 12,000 km before reaching Barking in East London. During its journey, the train passed through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France.

The train service is expected to boost the China-Britain trade ties, strengthen connectivity with western Europe, while better serving China's Belt and Road Initiative, the China Railway Corporation said.