Local Leaders’ Meeting of China and Central and Eastern European Countries • Chongqing 2013“Eurasia International Railway” Develops Rapidly and Prosperously

□ Article/ Journalist Tang Gang Tr. by Li Hui

Local Leaders’ Meeting of China and Central and Eastern European Countries • Chongqing 2013“Eurasia International Railway” Develops Rapidly and Prosperously

□ Article/ Journalist Tang Gang Tr. by Li Hui

At present, “Eurasia International Railway is in varied colorful splendor and enjoys rapid development with the “Belt and Road” being propelled forward.

In fact, when tracing back the development process of Eurasia International Railway, a large international conference held in Chongqing shall be given more attention. On 2 July to 4 July in 2013, the first Local Leaders’ Meeting of China and Central and Eastern European Countries was held in Chongqing. This is another one large international meeting in addition to two previous large international conferences, AAPP meeting and the Asia Pacific Cities Summit. The meeting is high-leveled with more than 1,000 people attending, including representatives from nearly 70 provinces and cities, principals of relevant departments of the central government and business leaders and other people from16 countries including China and countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Punta, Prime Minister of Romanian and Glu Évsky, Prime Minister of Macedonia.

Actually, this international meeting was an important opportunity that Chongqing has grasped to show their own image and development prospects. In 2013,Chongqing has successfully built and operated the Liangjiang New Area, Lianglu-Cuntan Bonded Port Area, Chongqing Xiyong Bonded Zone in terms of opening field. Chongqing has also opened direct access to Europe “Chongqing-Sinkiang-Europe International Railway” in March 2011, namely, Eurasia International Railway (Chongqing). The train starts from Chongqing, travelling toward west through Xi’an,Lanzhou, Urumqi, the northern Beijiang railway, arriving at the border port Alashankou, entering Kazakhstan,and then travelling via Russia, Belarus, Poland, and finally arrives at Duisburg in German with a total length of 11179 kilometers. Six countries along the railway and the customs departments are engaged in coordinating the operation of the train, with customs clearance along the railway mutually recognizing each other, and information sharing. Declaration, check,release operation are demanded only for once, which accelerates the running speed.

But at that time, Eurasia International Railway(Chongqing) has been put in operation for just two years, and the transport flights, transport prices and other important indicators were still being explored and adjusted;what’s more, the sort of transported goods was also relatively simple, especially the goods transported back to Chongqing was also relatively scarce. Therefore some people were wondered about the future development of Eurasia International Railway(Chongqing) from time to time, and Eurasia International Railway(Chongqing) was far from being so fully con fi rmed today. However,that the railway has been running stably and successfully for two years is able to earn the concerns of all guests from all countries attending Local Leaders Meeting of China-Central and Eastern European Countries.

It should be said that this meeting has also helped Eurasia International Railway (Chongqing) step on the international stage for the fi rst time. First of all, the municipal government has taken advantage of this opportunity to vigorously promote Eurasia International Railway (Chongqing) to make foreign guests exposed to the charm of Eurasia International Railway (Chongqing). In addition, the participants were also organized to visit the starting point of Eurasia International Railway (Chongqing)—Tuanjie Village, listen to the introduction and observe the direction during the meeting. They have wondered how to contact the railway with their own country. It is still fresh that Ambassador of Slovak Republic in China in the meeting, Frankish Sheikh Dehuoboschke has said that the freight block trains of Eurasia International Railway(Chongqing) will greatly shorten the period of transporting cargo between Chongqing and Central and eastern European countries and lower the costs accordingly.

In fact, Eurasia International Railway (Chongqing) has developed rapidly after the international meeting; especially, the operation mode of Eurasia International Railway (Chongqing) has been adopted quickly in the country under the in fl uence of the “Belt and Road” Initiative with more railways leading to Europe having been put into use, such as Han (Wuhan)-Sinkiang-Europe, Yi (Yiwu)-Sinkiang-Europe, Rong (Chengdu)-Sinkiang-Europe, Zheng(Zhengzhou) -Sinkiang-Europe and many other international trains.On August 14, 2014, China Railway Corporation has held the fi rst national coordination meeting of “Eurasia International Railway”in Chongqing in order to unify the wording and brand promotion.Principals from Chongqing, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Wuhan,Suzhou, Yiwu and other local governments and leaders in charge of from platform companies of “Eurasia International Railway”have attended the meeting. The meeting promulgated the Interim Procedures on the Administration of the Eurasia International Railway, and the attendees have signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishing the Coordinated Committee of Domestic Transport of Eurasia International Railway (Chongqing).The prototype of a uni fi ed of Eurasia International Railway came into being. In June 2016, all the trains from China to Europe have officially adopted the brand of Eurasia International Railway.Chongqing-Sinkiang-Europe International Railway is also of fi cially changed its name to Eurasia International Railway. At the end of March 2017, the Seminar on Eurasia International Railway Data Exchange and Mutual Supervision was held in Chongqing. The General Administration of Customs, China Railway Corporation,China Post Group, as well as the customs from Russia, Poland,Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Belarus, Afghanistan and other countries have attended the meeting. Chongqing is the only representative participating in the Eurasia International Railway leagues. At that time, the relevant principal in charge of the General Administration of Customs has said that there are 17 trains subordinated to Eurasia International Railway, while Eurasia International Railway(Chongqing), as a pioneer, has provided a large number of experiences for transplanting and promotion, and it currently enjoys the largest number of fl ights in China and Europe, the best quality of service, the greatest international recognition and influence.More accurately, Eurasia International Railway (Chongqing) has become a representative and an important brand for promoting Eurasia International Railway.

According to statistics, Eurasia International Railway (Chongqing)has become the first to reach 1,000 rows among Eurasia International Railway in February of this year. And Eurasia International Railway (Chongqing) has run for 400 rounds throughout the last year, which has remarked a new historical number. At the same time, the cargo value of Eurasia International Railway (Chongqing) has accounted for 80% of the total value of cargo transported by Eurasia International Railways departing from the Alashankou in Sinkiang until the end of December 2016 since the opening. The cargo value of Eurasia International Railway(Chongqing) has reached 16.88 billion yuan, which ranks first among Eurasia International Railways.