BEIJING - Mongolia has vowed to provide support enhancing the China-Europe freight trains route.

"We will help shorten the transit time of China-Europe freight trains via Mongolia and provide fast customs clearance services," said B Tsogtgerel, deputy minister of the Mongolian Road and Transport Development Ministry, on Friday.

In 2016, Chinese authorities announced the freight train route, which starts in Erenhot in northern China's Inner Mongolia and travels through Mongolia before linking to Russia and other European countries.

"There were 167 China-Europe freight trains travelling through Mongolia in 2016 and that is expected to reach 400 in 2017," said Tsogtgerel at the "Transit Mongolia 2017" forum in Beijing. "The train route via Mongolia will help develop the rich resources in Mongolia and promote the common development of countries along the route."

In 2011, China launched the China-Europe freight train service, which has witnessed rapid growth with high operation efficiency.

A total of 1,881 China-Europe freight trains, including 502 inbound trains, have been launched as of June 2016. The number is estimated to reach 5,000 by 2020. China-Europe trade value over the route hit $17 billion during the period.