CHANGSHA - China's biggest train maker CSR signed a contract on Tuesday with the national railway company of Macedonia to sell six bullet trains to the European country.

It is the first time China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation (CSR) has made sales in Europe.

The trains will be made in accordance with national standards of Macedonia and international standards, with a designed maximum speed of 140 km per hour and a life of 30 years, according to Xie Hongbing, an engineer of CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co Ltd.

High-speed rail has become a talisman for modern China. A video of a Chinese bullet train was shown in Times Square, New York this year.

Premier Li Keqiang has promoted high-speed rail technology during his many overseas visits, including his recent visit to Britain.

Behind the "high-speed rail diplomacy" is China's attempt to shift from labor-intensive manufacturing to become an innovation hub for high technology.

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