Rail bridge links nations along the Silk Road

China-Europe freight rail services experienced significant growth last year. In 2024, trains made 19,000 trips, representing a 10 percent increase compared to the previous year, and transported over 2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of cargo, a 9 percent rise year-on-year. Launched in 2011 as a flagship program of China's Belt and Road Initiative, this service now connects 227 cities across 25 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries. Since 2011, the transcontinental rail network has transported more than 11 million TEUs of goods, valued at over $420 billion.

The Eurasian railway revolution is primarily fueled by increased trade between the large economies, China and the European Union. Data from China's General Administration of Customs indicates that trade between China and the EU increased in 2024 despite ongoing trade frictions and a stagnating European economy. The bilateral trade volume reached 5.59 trillion yuan ($762 billion), marking a 1.6 percent rise compared to the previous year. The EU continued to be China's second-largest trading partner, after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The China-EU railway bridge has delivered clear benefits to the countries along its route in Central Asia and the South Caucasus, especially the landlocked nations. Improved transport accessibility is expected to promote economic growth, create jobs and attract investment. Additionally, enhanced transport connectivity facilitates scientific, cultural and humanitarian exchanges, further strengthening the cooperation of all nations involved. Here are some successful examples implemented last year.

In November, a shipment of electric vehicles was successfully transported from Chengdu in Sichuan province to Tbilisi, Georgia, using a combination of rail, sea and road transportation. This journey crossed through Kazakhstan and the Caspian Sea. Launched in July, the new route follows the Middle Corridor, an essential trade pathway through Central Asia and the South Caucasus. This corridor provides a reliable alternative to traditional shipping routes, and this new route has become increasingly important considering the geopolitical uncertainties.

Rail freight between China and Kazakhstan is experiencing significant growth. According to the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, freight volume reached a historical high of over 32 million metric tons by the end of 2024. Kazakhstan's exports grew by 1 million tons, totaling 13.7 million tons, with the main products being iron and nonferrous ores, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and grain. A key factor in this growth was the opening of Kazakhstan's terminal at the Xi'an dry port. In 2024, more than 300 container trains passed through this terminal and the port of Aktau, which is 30 times more than the previous year.

In 2024, China and Uzbekistan unveiled a series of new rail routes. The inaugural container block train departed from Jinhua Railway Station in East China and passed through Altynkol in Kazakhstan before reaching Nazarbek, near Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. This train, which consisted of 50 standard 40-foot containers, traveled 6,250 kilometers in just 12 days. On Jan 1, 2025, a high-speed freight train service was launched, connecting Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province in Northwest China, with Tashkent. This train also carried 50 containers and covered over 4,600 km, transporting large household appliances, textiles and chemicals from Xi'an to Tashkent via Horgos in China and Saryagach in Kazakhstan. The new route significantly reduced delivery times from eight to 10 days to just five to six days.

The construction of the new high-mountains China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway line began on Dec 27, 2024, to accommodate the rapidly increasing traffic. This railway will reduce the distance between China and European countries by 900 km. The new railway branch will stretch 486 km, with over 300 km crossing through Kyrgyzstan. Construction is planned for 18 railway stations, 81 bridges with an overall length of 26.1 km, and 41 tunnels with a total length of 120.39 km. The combined length of the bridges and tunnels will be 146.49 km, accounting for 47 percent of the stretch within Kyrgyzstan. The annual cargo transportation volume along this new corridor is anticipated to reach 15 million tons. Additionally, there will be opportunities to organize regular passenger transport services.

The new railway lines are expected to converge in Central Asia with the North-South railways currently under construction. These railways will connect Russia and Central Asia through Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Iran to the deep-water ports of the Indian Ocean. If this plan is implemented, the intersection of the East-West and North-South railway routes in Central Asia will transform the region into a major transport hub for the whole of Eurasia.

The China-Europe railway bridge is a crucial lifeline for the nations along the Silk Road. Its significance goes beyond mere transportation; it symbolizes a revival of ancient trade routes, fostering economic growth and cultural exchanges between the East and the West. This modern marvel connects cities and people, enhances collaboration, and opens doors to countless opportunities for development and prosperity in the region. Further development of the railway network will allow all countries along the legendary route to trade and cooperate, thus increasing the competitiveness of all parties involved. As a result, the arrival of a new Silk Road will be imminent.

The author is former prime minister of the Kyrgyz Republic and a distinguished professor at the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.