It is the “lifeline” for transporting epidemic prevention materials in short supply, the “iron and steel torrent” that contributes to the operation of the global economy, and an important symbol of opening a new channel for international trade.
Section by section, column by column, station by station, this torrent continues to extend and accelerate.
It is the “one belt, one road” rail transportation, and in 2021, it ran out of new “acceleration”.
run out of the development “acceleration”
On Christmas Eve, when people in Europe and the United States were worried that they could not receive Christmas gifts in time due to the obstruction of shipping, China EU trains across China were continuously transporting Christmas supplies from China to Europe.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the operation of China Europe trains and the fifth anniversary of the unified brand. By the end of October, the China Europe train had laid 73 operation lines, reached 175 cities in 23 countries in Europe, transported more than 50000 kinds of goods, timely delivered the necessities and means of production produced in China to Europe, and also facilitated the export of European enterprises to China.
Under the epidemic situation, the number of China EU trains and cargo traffic volume continue to set new records. Information from the national development and Reform Commission shows that from January to November this year, 13817 China Europe trains were operated and 1332000 TEUs were transported, an increase of 23% and 30% respectively year-on-year. By the end of November this year, the cumulative delivery of epidemic prevention materials by China EU trains had reached 13.43 million pieces and 103000 tons.
Axel maten, head of the Marketing Association of Hamburg Port, Germany, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency reporters in Hamburg a few days ago that China plays an important role in the global industrial chain and supply chain. As a reliable alternative to logistics, China Europe train is conducive to alleviating the current tension in the supply chain.
Du Hua, a staff member of the Overseas Department of Central Asia Baofeng International Logistics Co., Ltd., said that at present, the freight rate of the China Europe train is basically the same as that of the sea transportation, but it takes only half a month to take the railway, which is nearly half less than that of the sea transportation.
take a key step
In December 3rd, the old fellow railway was opened and operated on a full scale, marking a crucial step in the Pan Asian Railway, which has been brewing for more than half a century. Start at dawn and arrive at dusk, the old fellow railway to the border between China and Laos will be reduced from 2 days to 3 hours, and to Kunming, Yunnan, the journey will be very late.
Pice Gunara, deputy director of the Rail Transit Department of Thailand’s Ministry of communications, told Xinhua, “the opening of the Zhong Lao railway is conducive to the development of trade, investment and tourism in the areas along the railway, including China, the old and the Thai. The whole Mekong River region will benefit from commerce, Shenzhen Agricultural Products Group Co.Ltd(000061) , consumer goods, investment and tourism.”
The world bank research report said that the old fellow railway is expected to reduce the transportation cost between Vientiane and Kunming by 40% to 50%. Transportation costs from Thailand’s lanchabang port to Kunming are expected to drop by at least 32%. It is estimated that by 2030, the volume of annual transit trade of the old fellow railway will reach 3 million 900 thousand tons.
China’s one belt, one road initiative, is being implemented in the 30th anniversary year of the dialogue between China and ASEAN. The two sides are promoting the “2025 way” initiative. On January 1 next year, the regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement (RCEP) will officially enter into force. Experts believe that the one belt, one road initiative will drive the Pan Asian railway construction process and promote regional interconnection.
the “road” of development continues to extend
In mid June this year, a commencement ceremony was held for the Ithaca Mwanza section of Tanzania central line standard gauge railway contracted by Chinese enterprises. After the completion of the railway project, it will become an important channel connecting Tanzania and Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi to the India ocean, which is of great significance to promoting regional economic development and improving people’s livelihood.
From the Tanzania Zambia Railway built in the 1970s, to the Addis Ababa Djibouti railway and Mombasa Nairobi railway opened and operated in recent years, to the newly-built standard gauge railway of Tanzania central line, with the joint efforts of China and Africa, the “road” of development on the land of Africa has been continuously extended, which has witnessed the consistent sincerity and unwavering action of China and the world in seeking common development.
China has signed one belt, one road cooperation document with more than 200 countries and 32 international organizations as of December 16th. Financial institutions such as the Asian investment bank and the Silk Road Fund initiated by China have expanded funding channels for infrastructure construction. The bright spots are one belt, one road, and the other is the “one belt and one road” construction.
Banbang suryono, chairman of the Asian innovation research center, an Indonesian think tank, said that for many countries, one of the main reasons why it is difficult to get rid of poverty is the weak construction of transportation infrastructure. In this regard, China has set an example for countries around the world.
