The Chinese are hoping that the New Silk Road will change the economic landscape of the world.
June 8 from the train station in Chengdu, the capital of środkowochińskiej Sichuan Province, went to Europe first freight train bearing the new logo – “China Railway Express “. Although the first locomotive pulling behind wagons unloaded goods from Chengdu to Lodz began riding in 2013., The composition will have a symbolic meaning. Reach for the Polish during the visit of the President of the Republic of China Xi Jinping. On Monday, the train will be solemnly welcomed at the Polish cargo terminal in Warsaw. It has to be a symbol of a new era of transport from China to Europe.
The Chinese railways have decided that the new logo will bear all freight rail transports traversing the steppe and desert areas of Central Asian goods to Europe. Similar trains like the one in Chengdu set off from Wuhan, Suzhou, Dongguan and other big cities of the Middle Kingdom.
Why China put on a train? The train can reach from China to Europe in 11-14 days (as reported by the newspaper “China Daily” record was 10.5 days), while sea transport is 40-50 days, although it is cheaper. Month by month the Central Asia travels, however, more and more Chinese trains, heading in the direction of the old continent.
According to Chinese statistics – cited by the newspaper “China Daily” – for example, since its launch in 2013. Connection from Chengdu to Europe has now reached 300 trains bringing more than 38 thousand. tons of goods worth $ 1 billion. The Chinese have announced that in 2016. Europe will arrive this way a total of 400 stores, but already in 2017. Have them be in 1000.
For the Chinese it is still not enough – plan to invest billions of dollars in the development of transport routes line Asia-Europe. It’s part of the great geopolitical project of the Middle Kingdom, called the New Silk Road or the concept of “One lane, one way” (with English. One Belt One Road). Poland lies on the line of the route and then this concept will be one of the topics discussed during the visit of the Chinese president in Poland.
Expert Polish Institute of International Affairs Damian Wnukowski stresses that now when almost every visiting foreign authorities of the PRC is moved on new Silk Road, and certainly it will also happen in Poland. “We do not know just exactly in what context. This could be talking about specific Chinese investments in Central Europe – the railway and logistics – in which could be the involvement of the Polish company. It can be a conversation about how Poland can join in investments with the support of the Asian Infrastructure investment Bank “- he said.
He stressed that Poland lies on the probable route of the New Silk road from China to Western Europe. “Geographical position strengthens our position and makes the interest in the region of Central Europe from the Middle Kingdom is big. You have to remember that gestures in politics and Asian culture are very important and the fact that a few months after the visit to China of President Andrew Duda comes to Polish China’s President shows the importance the Chinese want to give these relations, “- he stressed.
According to the expert, the arrival of the Polish during President signed between China train logo” China Railway Express “will have a symbolic meaning. “Rail services from China to Polish already exist. Train arrival of the new logo is to show that this combination works, and that the Chinese are determined to develop them,” – he stressed. According Wnukowskiego number of trains from China to Europe will probably increase, but it is difficult to assess at what pace. “Rail transport is faster, but still more expensive than sea transport. This competition between different modes of transport must be taken into account,” – he stressed.
Expert Centre for Eastern Studies Jacob Jakóbowski also believes that the theme of the New Silk Road will scroll up frequently during his visit to Poland, the President of the PRC, but specific solutions, such as the agreement will be the nature of bilateral.
“the concept of the New Silk Road can be likened to the basket, to which the Chinese throw all kinds of projects – both bilateral, regional, and how. Any agreement related to transportation, infrastructure or energy will be signed by the Chinese this idea. And so it should be treated – as a big umbrella spanning various projects in Eurasia, rather than a list of specific projects to be implemented in the coming years “- he stressed.
In his opinion, this issue illustrates the new logo on trains leading to Europe . “It’s a great example of how the New Silk Road. Trains for several years, they carry goods from China to Europe – in the part of Poland, and calls pursue different company. From now on, all trains will have one logo to be associated with the New Silk Road. This is an example of inserting a series of initiatives into one bag “- he said.
Jakóbowski believes that the initiative of the New Silk Road is so broad that it can not be said that one of the European countries plays a key role.” If we look at our region, indeed the majority of the existing branches of the trail runs through Poland, but this is not the only possible way to trade. Another begins on Greek Piraeus, where China are trying to build a transport corridor through Macedonia, Serbia towards central Europe. The Chinese want to be present in the Baltic States, Lithuania and Latvia in Riga. Taking this into account it is difficult to say that either the state was crucial for China, “- he said.
Jakóbowski stresses, however, that now line the Asia-Europe rail is not able to replace maritime transport.” With the current development of infrastructure and technology, maritime trade will always be cheaper than rail. 80 percent. transport from China to Europe is now carried out by sea. The success of the development of rail will depend on how big the demand for products that qualify for rail transport – food, electronic equipment. I come from a distance to the announcement on the number of Chinese railway trains, which will be reached in Europe in the coming years. It’s a question of costs. In time, however, technology and infrastructure may develop that land connections will be competing for the sea, “- he said.
New Silk Road has now become one of the key concepts of economic development of the Middle Kingdom. It is assumed the creation of transport corridors connecting China with the EU – the most important trade partner of China.
the concept of the New Silk Road was presented in autumn 2013. by the leader of the Republic of China Xi Jinping. It refers to the ancient trade route linking China with Europe and the Middle East, which was used by merchants from the third century BC to the seventeenth century was transported him not only silk, but also iron, paper, gold, and jewelry. With a population of 12 thousand. km connection ceased to be relevant approx. 1650., after the discovery of a sea route to China.
Lukasz Osinski (PAP)
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