LISBON, Aug. 21 -- The Portugal-China Young Entrepreneurs Association (AJEPC) has announced to launch a networking event along train journeys in China and Europe, Portuguese Lusa News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Several European and Chinese business associations are organizing a networking event, called Business Rail, aimed at bringing together businessmen from different sectors and countries in rail travel, said Alberto Carvalho Neto, president of the AJEPC and co-founder of the event.

The China-leg event will take place on Oct. 9-20, starting in Beijing and ending in Macau, with stops in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Participants of the event will also attend the International Trade and Investment Fair in Macau.

The Europe-leg will depart from Brussels to Rome as the final destination, with stops in the Iberian Peninsula and Central Europe.

"The great advantage of a train ride is that you can get in and out, meet different people, and it turns out to be a cultural and networking event," he said, adding that the entrepreneurs can get on and off in any of the cities covered.

The first edition took place in 2018 in the Iberian Peninsula from Barcelona to Porto.

Carvalho Neto expressed his hope to take advantage of China's Belt and Road Initiative to extend the event to more countries.

"The main goal is that by 2024 you can make trips from China to Europe, the 10-day Trans-Siberian rail travel between Beijing and St Petersburg," he said.