TASHKENT (Xinhua) — The first cargo train from Afghanistan to China via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan departed on Thursday, Uzbek state-owned railway company Uzbekistan Railways has said.

The official ceremony for the departure of the train was held at the Hairatan railway station in Afghanistan, the Uzbek company said in a statement.

The train is loaded with 41 containers of semi-finished stone of mineral talcum powder, according to the company.

Cargo trains from China to Afghanistan via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan started running in 2016.