Forwarder association seeks to fast track Sino-Russian rail links
CHINA and Russia should develop the cross-border railways from northeastern China border city Suifenhe to Russia's Grodekovo and from another northeastern border city Manzhouli to Russia's Zabaykalsky, say Chinese forwarders
Speaking at a recent transport forum, Lin Beizhan, landbridge secretary of the China International Freight Forwarders Association, said the Suifenhe-Grodekovo and Manzhouli-Zabaykalsky railways will become important routes linking Asia to Europe as well forging links into Russia and Mongolia to the ports of northeast China.
After these two routes open, he said, sea-land intermodal shipments can be moved via China's northeast coast to Busan and Niigata and Yokohama, playing important roles in regional and well as European economic cooperation.
But Mr Lin said the 27-kilometre Grodekovo-Suifenhe is single-tracked and fit only for diesel locomotives. It needs to be double-tracked and electrified, he said.
Russia already has plans to upgrade the line, he said, noting that the other Manzhouli- Zabaykalsky line in China from Hailar to Manzhouli, has already been double-tracked and that the Mudanjiang-Suifenhe is undergoing expansion.
Mr Lin said China and Russia should accelerate the development of freight yards at railway checkpoints to encourage development.
The international border checkpoint development forum Mr Lin attended was part of the 2013 China-Suifenhe International Trade Port Expo. The expo, held in Suifenhe, is the first international trade expo in China with port trade as theme.
