CHONGQING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality opened a new postal rail service to Europe Friday to meet the rising demand for international parcel delivery amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The first train of the service, operated by a China-Europe cargo train, carries 44 TEUs of relief supplies and parcels, expected to arrive in Lithuania 10 days later. After that, parcels will be transferred to 36 European countries such as Spain, Denmark and France.

The China-Europe cargo service departing from Chongqing plans to kick off seven postal trains to Lithuania in the near future.

The Europe-bound trains departing from Chongqing have been regarded as pioneering efforts in China's rail postal service. As of the end of March, the China-Europe cargo trains operated from Chongqing have provided postal service to 36 European countries since 2014.