On September15th, the China-Europe Express International Cooperation Forum was held in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province. The forum achieved 48 cooperation outcomes, including the release of the China-Europe Express comprehensive schedule.
This forum is one of the significant events in the series commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Under the theme “Deepening Interconnectivity and Promoting Win-Win Cooperation” it aims to comprehensively deepen friendly exchanges and practical cooperation with partner countries.
Among the 48 cooperative achievements, these include the launch of the China-Europe Railway Express portal website, the release of the comprehensive timetable for the China-Europe Railway Express, the promotion of the electronic bill of Intermodal transport of the China-Europe Railway Express, the implementation of capacity expansion and upgrades for key railway ports and hinterland channels of the China-Europe Railway Express, and the increase in traction and capacity of the China-Europe Railway Express.
The forum consisted of three segments: the opening ceremony, the main forum, and the sub-forum, spanning a single day. During the main forum, both domestic and international attendees engaged in extensive discussions regarding the advancement of the high-quality development of the China-Europe Railway Express and the stimulation of regional open economic growth. In the afternoon of the 15th, two sub-forums centered on “Rail + Maritime Transportation” and “Rail + Trade and Economic” were conducted, with a primary focus on broadening practical collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, cultural interactions, the digital economy, and land-sea connectivity.
The forum was co-organized by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Transport, the General Administration of Customs, the China State Railway Group, and several provincial and regional governments, including Jiangsu, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Henan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Xinjiang. It brought together over 500 representatives from more than 29 countries and regions, including officials from relevant ministries and commissions, directors of the host provinces (regions, municipalities), as well as experts, scholars, and business representatives from renowned research institutions and think tanks.
During the opening ceremony the significance of the high-quality development of China-Europe Railway Express has been highlighted.
High-ranking officials, including the first vice premier of the People’s Republic of China and the sixth-ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, Ding Xuexiang, attended the opening ceremony. Ding Xuexiang read President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter and underscored the significance of this special letter from President Xi Jinping. He emphasized the pivotal role of the forum as a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative. He noted that the China-Europe Railway Express, since its inception, has actively engaged with countries along its route, fostering consensus, promoting win-win cooperation, and facilitating dynamic development. It has evolved into a widely recognized international asset, receiving widespread acclaim.
In the context of unprecedented global changes and challenges, Ding Xuexiang stressed the need for collaborative efforts to sustain and expand the China-Europe Railway Express project. He outlined key priorities, including building an efficient transportation system, enhancing safety governance, establishing multiple transport channels, and fostering innovation and development within the China-Europe train network. These actions aim to strengthen international cooperation, ensure safety, and promote sustainable and diversified growth while benefiting countries along the route.
Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Roman Sklyar, emphasized the significance of the initiative in the context of heightened geopolitical tensions. He highlighted the vital role of transportation in fostering sustainable economic growth. Prime Minister also delivered a speech in which he underscored the importance of the initiative in a time of geopolitical challenges, emphasizing the critical role of transportation in promoting sustainable economic development.
Mr. Cong Liang, Vice Chairman of National Development and Reform Commission, stated that in the future, the primary focus should be on advancing high-quality development surrounding the theme of “consolidation, stability, and enhancement.” He proposed a collaborative effort to transform the China-Europe Railway Express into a “path of happiness” that benefits people across nations and a “path of prosperity” that contributes to global well-being. He recommended strengthening alignment in the market, planning, platforms, and projects to fully harness the China-Europe Railway Express’s potential as a catalyst for economic and social progress. This approach would foster the harmonious growth of the China-Europe Railway Express alongside sectors like manufacturing, trade, finance, and technology, fostering shared development opportunities with the countries along its route.
Mr. Li Yang, Vice Minister of Transport, emphasized the importance of creating a series of multimodal transportation hub projects, taking inspiration from models such as the “Japan-Korea-Lianyungang-Almaty” rail-sea intermodal transportation and the “Shanghai-Huanghua-Shijiazhuang-Moscow” multimodal transportation.
Mr. Sun Yuning, Deputy Commissioner -General of General Administration of Customs, affirmed that the General Administration of Customs is committed to advancing the Smart Customs Partnership Program, providing support for the growth of open platforms in hub cities and comprehensive bonded zones, and facilitating the transition and advancement from a transit-based economy to an industrial-based economy.
Li Yong Zhao, Chairman of China Logistics Group International Express Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. And Chairman of China Materials Storage and Transportation Association, also highlighted importance of China Europe Railway Express, mentioning that the China-Europe Railway Express has opened a new window for Wuxi, serving as a crucial transportation link, providing convenient conditions for companies to respond to foreign orders promptly, strengthening industrial connections, and deepening regional cooperation.
The representative of the International Institute of Green Finance, Daria Gerasimenko, also participated in the event and contributed to the Round Table Forum titled “Railway Express and New Transport Corridor.” The discussion revolved around the topic of how the China-Europe Railway Express (CRE) contributes to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. She emphasized the environmental advantages of rail transportation, particularly the CRE, in reducing emissions and promoting sustainability. Additionally, she highlighted China’s commitment to green initiatives within its railway system, which includes electrification, hydrogen and battery electric trains, and the integration of renewable energy sources. She also discussed the role of green finance in supporting these sustainable transformations and offered suggestions for diversifying funding sources, refining green project catalogues, and fostering innovation in financial instruments to align with evolving green finance regulations.
On March 19, 2011, the inaugural China-Europe Railway Express embarked on its journey from Chongqing, China, to Duisburg, Germany, carrying a full load of freight. Over recent years, the China-Europe Railway Express has experienced remarkable growth in transport volume and has consistently enhanced its operational quality. The range of transported goods has also expanded significantly, encompassing nearly 50,000 types of cargo, ranging from IT products to automotive parts, complete vehicles, medical devices, and more. In 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission allocated special funding to support the development of demonstration projects for China-Europe Railway Express terminals in five crucial hub cities: Zhengzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, and Urumqi. In 2022, these five transport hubs collectively operated a total of 8,800 China-Europe Railway Express train journeys, accounting for 53% of all China-Europe Railway Express services. Jiangsu was one of the earliest provinces in China to launch the China-Europe Railway Express, and data indicates that in the first eight months of this year, a total of 1,504 trips were made, with a record-breaking 214 trips taking place in August alone.
As a flagship project and prominent brand of the Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Europe Railway Express is poised for continued growth and innovation, offering substantial support for the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative and fostering stronger international cooperation.