Polish town eyes fast track for intercontinental trade

WARSAW, Poland－The Polish town of Terespol, lying on the border with Belarus, has long been one of the busiest gateways to the European Union.

Riding the wave of fast-growing freight train services by China Railway Express, the town is looking for closer cooperation with China.

A growing number of freight trains pass the Bug River at Terespol to and from the EU, traveling to various cities in Poland and across the continent, including Madrid, Paris and Duisburg in Germany.

"We already benefit from our location on the New Silk Road, which is very real," said Jacek Danieluk, the mayor of Terespol. "You cannot avoid Terespol when traveling between the east and the west."

Currently, freight trains can transfer their cargo and conduct customs clearance at the nearby Malaszewice terminal, one of the largest in Europe. But those facilities are reaching maximum capacity, said Danieluk.

"Around 10 to 20 trains pass by Terespol each day already," he said, adding the growth of rail freight from China opens up the possibility of more investments in related projects.

They may include new transfer depots and other projects that would supplement rail activities in the border area, the mayor said.

"Even though the town itself is a couple of kilometers from the rails, and we do not possess large plots of land beside the tracks, we are welcoming anyone who wants to set up their base here, including from China," he said.

The municipality of 6,000 people has already made plots available for additional logistical projects, Danieluk said. "We are ready for further investments. Terespol itself has all the necessary attributes," Danieluk said.

"We receive European funds for our infrastructure as well, so it is in very good shape."

Danieluk is very positive about the prospects for increased freight traffic between Poland and China.

"The trade route engages Russia and Belarus as well, which could contribute to cooperation between Poland and its neighbors," he said.

Xinhua