China to further freight train cooperation with Mongolia, Russia

Transportation authorities from China, Mongolia and Russia gathered at a forum in Beijing on April 7 to discuss cooperation on freight train transportation.

The forum, organized by the Mongolian embassy in Beijing, focused on the Belt and Road Initiative and the further enhancement of regional economy.

The freight train linking China, Mongolia and Russia will boost trade and regional economy, said Wang Jiayu, an official from the National Railway Administration of China.

China is developing the China Railway Express, also called the Sino-European freight train. The China Railway Express train has three routes: an eastern, central and western route. The central route links Mongolia and Russia and extends to other European countries.

B. Tsogtgerel, Mongolian vice-minister of transportation, said the central path is very important. A total of 167 China Express Railway trains passed Mongolia last year.

"The target is to increase it to 400 this year," he said.

"Mongolia will continue to provide assistance to make sure the path is smooth, including further cutting time for trains to cross borders and clear customs. Mongolia will also provide more space for freight trains to load and unload goods."

Tsogtgerel said the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, will boost regional economy.

"The economic collaboration between China, Mongolia and Russia is an important part of the global economy," he added.

China started the China-Europe freight train service in 2011, and enhanced the service in 2013 under the initiative.

Last year, 1,702 trains departed from China, a 109 percent year-on-year increase, and 572 trains returned to China, up 116 percent year-on-year, according to the China Railway Corp.