Nations envision future path through joint transit plans

With the future of China-Russia business relations directly pegged to connectivity, diversified trading methods and people-to-people exchanges, China is deploying more resources in Russia's lucrative transportation and infrastructure markets.

Cai Jin, vice-president of the Beijing-based China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, said China is planning to work with ports in Russia to develop shorter shipping routes to Europe via the Northeast Passage in the Arctic Ocean.

Specially designed cargo ships carrying Chinese goods will leave Russia's Zarubino Port on a 30-day journey to Europe through the passage.

"Air cargo services from Northeast and Central China provinces such as Jilin, Heilongjiang and Henan to major cities in Russia and Mongolia will also be available soon to ship high-end and high-tech products between consumers and manufacturers from both sides," Cai said.

To enhance Russia's technical capabilities to improve its rail transit, China and Russia set up a joint venture in Russia in November to manufacture electromagnetic unit vehicles for the Moscow-Kazan high-speed rail project.

The vehicles will be manufactured by Jilin-based Changchun Railway Vehicles Co, a subsidiary of China Railway Rolling Stock Corp, the country's largest train maker by revenue.

Although the high-speed rail linking Moscow and Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan Republic, will run through high altitude regions, Changchun Railway Vehicles has experience in making electromagnetic unit trains for high-speed rail lines that cut through mountainous areas.

"The Chinese company's experience in producing equipment suitable for extreme cold weather conditions will come in handy for the Moscow-Kazan line," said Zhu Ying, general manager of Chengdu-headquartered China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co.

The world's first high-speed railway operating in extremely low temperatures is the 921-kilometer line linking Harbin, capital of China's northernmost province of Heilongjiang, and the port city of Dalian, Liaoning province. The line went into operation in 2012 and runs in temperatures as low as minus-50 Celsius.

The Moscow-Kazan line, with a length of about 770 km, will run through seven Russian regions when it is completed by 2018, before the Russia FIFA World Cup. It will cut travel time between Moscow and Kazan to three and a half hours from the current time of 14 hours.

The line will later be extended and become part of the planned Beijing-Moscow high-speed corridor.

Zhao Zhongxiu, a professor who researches economics and trade at the University of International Business and Economics, said improving regional connectivity as well as joint research and development are practical ways to optimize the industrial structure of both China and Russia.

"The opportunities involve more railway networks, roads, regional airports, ports and manufacturing facilities as both countries strive to achieve their long-term goals in transportation infrastructure, bilateral trade and industrial upgrading," he said.

zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 12/16/2015 page7)