Promoting the "China Europe Express" to Accelerate China Belarus Exploration of New International Logistics Models

At Brest North Station, containers from China can be seen everywhere. People's Daily reporter Wang Zhen walked into Brest North Station in Belarus, where rows of containers labeled "YUXINOU" and "Xi'an Port" were neatly stacked, especially eye-catching; The towering automated gantry crane continuously loads and unloads goods in the operation area of the station. Brest North Station is an important hub for undertaking the transfer business of China Europe freight trains. With the acceleration of the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" project, the business here is getting busier and busier. "The transportation business of China Europe freight trains is our priority direction," Gennady Azarenkov, the first deputy station director of Brest North Station of Belarusian Railway Company, told reporters.

A transportation hub spanning across Europe and Asia

Brest, on the border with Poland, is known as the "gateway to Western Europe". Thanks to its unique geographical location, the Brest railway hub has become an important international cargo transfer and distribution center.

Due to differences in railway gauge between China and most European countries, as well as countries such as Belarus and Kazakhstan, China Europe freight trains passing through multiple Eurasian countries undergo two rail and equipment changes, with Brest being one of the stations. Container trains passing through Brest from Europe are required to complete their loading operations here.

Azarenkov introduced that in recent years, the transportation volume of China Europe freight trains has been continuously increasing, with an average of over 150 China Europe freight trains passing through Brest every month this year. From the source of goods, 70% of the shipments come from China.

In addition to transshipment, Brest also undertakes the transportation of its own exported goods to China. "The goods transported to China through Brest mainly include wood, vegetable oil, dairy products, and various commodities produced in Belarus," he said.

Azarenkov said that in order to meet the increasingly busy logistics needs of China Europe freight trains, in 2019, the container loading and unloading station completed the upgrading and renovation of the container terminal, equipped with large mechanical equipment such as automated gantry cranes and front cranes, achieving transparent management of the entire process from customs clearance to loading and unloading, and further improving the processing capacity of the container loading and unloading yard. "At present, the station can accommodate nearly 3000 containers. The daily processing capacity reaches 1100 containers, equivalent to the cargo volume of 18 trains."

Azarenkov introduced that Belarus has always attached great importance to the development of its business with China. In order to further speed up the China Europe freight train, Bai Fang has launched container express trains for China's transportation routes.

"In 2021, Belarus sent about 150 container trains to China, and in 2022, this number is close to 1000. This year, we expect to send at least 1200 container trains to China," he said.

Exploring the model of connecting land and sea

The acceleration of China Belarus trade has put forward higher requirements for trade logistics services. Since the beginning of this year, the railway authorities and logistics companies of the two countries have conducted intensive visits to discuss plans to further accelerate the efficient operation of the international transportation chain.

During the visit of a delegation from Belarus Railway Company to China in July this year, an agreement was reached with Chongqing and Chengdu to enhance the normalized transportation services of container trains.

In addition to the existing land transportation routes, both sides actively explore new transportation chains and plan to transport goods to China through seaports in the northwest region of Russia and the Far East.

In August, delegations from Shanghai and Jiangsu held talks with high-level officials from the Belarusian Railway Bureau in Minsk, and the two sides discussed the possibility of using Russian seaport infrastructure for land sea intermodal transportation.

To expand the import and export business of fresh products, Chengdu International Express has launched cold chain transportation products such as the "Moscow Chengdu" cold chain transportation train, the "Brest Chengdu" cold chain transportation return train, and the European return cold chain transportation train.

Azarenkov emphasized the hope that Belarus and China will strengthen friendly cooperation, and Brest Station will further provide assistance for the growth of trade volume between the two countries.

Gennady Azarenkov, the first deputy station director of Brest North Station, was interviewed by People's Daily Online reporters. Photo by Deng Jie, a journalist from People's Daily Online

The staff at Brest North Station. Photo by Zhu Hong, a journalist from People's Daily Online

The staff at Brest North Station. Photo by Zhu Hong, a journalist from People's Daily Online

Brest North Station is undergoing renovation work. Photo by Wang Zhen, a journalist from People's Daily Online

A train loaded with goods at Brest North Station. Photo by Zhu Hong, a journalist from People's Daily Online

Brest North Station is undergoing renovation work. Photo by Wang Zhen, a journalist from People's Daily Online

Brest North Station is undergoing renovation work. Photo by Zhu Hong, a journalist from People's Daily Online

Container goods from China are waiting for replacement. Photo by Wang Zhen, a journalist from People's Daily Online

Container cargo from Chongqing, China is waiting for replacement. Photo by Wang Zhen, a journalist from People's Daily Online

Container cargo from Chongqing, China is waiting for replacement. Photo by Wang Zhen, a journalist from People's Daily Online

The large-scale transnational financial media reporting activity of People's Daily "the Belt and Road" came to Brest Reload Station. Photo by Zhu Hong, a journalist from People's Daily Online