Trucks depart Xinjiang for Russia on trial of new highway

Nine trucks set out on the fourth Asian Highway on Friday, the first commercial vehicles to travel on the new route, which is expected to expand trade between China and its northern neighbors.

The trucks, dispatched by China, Russia and Mongolia, departed Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and are scheduled to reach Novosibirsk in Siberia, Russia, next Thursday. The historic journey is a trial operation ahead of the official opening of the new highway.