Russia launched the "Arctic Express No. 1" logistics express service on July 5 in Moscow Oblast. The logistics route, featuring rail-sea intermodal transportation, connects Moscow with Chinese ports, with a transit stop at Arkhangelsk port in northwest Russia via the Arctic Ocean. The 13,000-km route is expected to slash transportation time to 20 to 25 days, a reduction of at least 20 days compared with the traditional route via the Suez Canal.