BEIJING – According to Latin American Herald Tribune, China expects 5,000 freight trains to run annually to Europe by 2020, once the rail network is fully developed, according to an official plan released Tuesday 18th October 2016.
The plan released by the National Development and Reform Commission expects that by 2020 the current system of railways with Europe will have reached its maximum efficiency.
“Trade between China and Europe is developing very fast, with high demand for transportation products, which provides a very good opportunity for trains between China and Europe,” according to the plan outlined in a 19-page document.
However, it admitted that these trains are in their first stage of development and that the cost of transport is relatively high, besides the need to reorganize traffic and, above all, increase infrastructure.
During the first six months of this year, 1,881 trains circulated between China and final destinations in several European countries, including Germany.
One connection which links Yiwu with Madrid is currently the longest railway line in the world stretching 13,052 kilometers (8,110 miles).
The European Union is China’s largest trading partner while the latter is the European bloc’s second largest partner and recorded a total exchange of $564.6 billion in 2015.
Source: http://www.laht.com/article.asp?CategoryId=12396&ArticleId=2423404
