On Christmas Eve, when people in European and American countries worried that they would not be able to receive Christmas gifts in time due to shipping restrictions, China-Europe Express trains across China were shipping Christmas supplies from China to Europe.

2021 is the tenth anniversary of the operation of the China-Europe Railway Express and the fifth anniversary of the unified brand. As of the end of October 2021, the China-Europe Express has laid out 73 operating routes, reaching 175 cities in 23 European countries, transporting more than 50,000 kinds of goods, and delivering the daily necessities and production materials produced in China to Europe in a timely manner. European companies facilitate their exports to China.

During the epidemic, the number of China-Europe express trains and freight volume kept breaking new records. Information from the National Development and Reform Commission shows that from January to November 2021, a total of 13,817 China-Europe freight trains were operated, transporting 1.332 million TEUs, an increase of 23% and 30% year-on-year respectively. As of the end of November 2021, China-Europe freight trains have transported 13.43 million pieces and 103,000 tons of anti-epidemic materials.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency in Hamburg, the head of the Marketing Association of the Port of Hamburg, Germany, Axel Mattern said that China plays an important role in the supply chain of the global industrial chain. As a reliable alternative to logistics, China-Europe Express trains help ease the current supply chain tensions.

Du Hua, an overseas staff member of Zhongya Baofeng International Logistics Co., Ltd., said that the current freight rate of China-Europe Express is basically the same as that of ocean freight, but it only takes half a month to travel by rail, which is more than half the time of ocean freight.

Key step

On December 3, 2021, the China-Laos Railway officially opened for full operation, marking a crucial step for the Trans-Asian Railway, which has been brewing for more than half a century. After the opening of the China-Laos Railway, the journey from Vientiane to the China-Laos border has been reduced from 2 days to 3 hours, and the journey to Kunming, Yunnan, can arrive in the morning and evening.

In an interview with Xinhua News Agency, Deputy Director of the Rail Transit Department of Thailand’s Ministry of Transport Phiche Gunathara said: “The opening of the China-Laos railway is conducive to promoting the development of trade, investment and tourism in areas along the railway, including China, Laos, and Laos. The countries in the Greater Mekong region, including the three countries in Thailand, will benefit from commerce, agricultural products, consumer products, investment, and tourism."

The World Bank research report said that the China-Laos Railway is expected to reduce the transportation cost between Vientiane and Kunming by 40% to 50%; the transportation cost from Lan Chabang Port in Thailand to Kunming is expected to drop by at least 32%. It is estimated that by 2030, the annual transit trade cargo volume through the Laos section of the China-Laos Railway will reach 3.9 million tons.

2021 coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN. Both parties are advancing the integration of the Belt and Road Initiative and the "ASEAN Interconnection Master Plan 2025". On January 1, 2022, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) will come into effect. Experts believe that the Belt and Road Initiative will drive the construction of the Trans-Asian Railway and promote regional connectivity.

Extension of the road of development

In mid-June 2021, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Ithaca-Mwanza section of the Tanzania Central Line Standard Gauge Railway, which was constructed by a Chinese enterprise. After the completion of this railway project, it will become an important channel connecting Tanzania and Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and other countries and leading to the Indian Ocean. It is of great significance to promoting the economic development of regional countries and improving people's livelihood.

From the Tanzania-Zambia Railway built in the 1970s, to the Yajiro-Djibouti Railway and the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway that have opened operations in recent years, to the newly-built Tanzania Central Line Standard Gauge Railway, the joint efforts of China and Africa have contributed to the development of the continent of Africa. The continuous extension of the road has witnessed China's consistent sincerity and unwavering action in seeking common development with the world. As of December 16, 2021, China has signed more than 200 cooperation documents on the Belt and Road Initiative with 145 countries and 32 international organizations. Financial institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund proposed by China to expand funding channels for infrastructure construction. The numerous bright spots marked the solid and heavy achievements of the Belt and Road construction. Keywords: One Belt One Road, One Belt One Road News, One Belt One Road Project, Overseas Projects

Bambang 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 escape poverty is the weak transportation infrastructure. In this regard, China has set an example for all countries in the world.Editor/XuNing