China-Europe Railway Express having major effect on economy
According to an expert in the transportation and logistics industry, the China-Europe Railway Express has brought vitality to the German port city of Duisburg, at the junction of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers.
Bernd Noche, professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen and head of the Department of Transport Systems and Logistics, said the China-Europe Railway Express, as a mode of transportation and a trade carrier, transports high-quality Chinese goods to countries along its route, and promotes the development of the logistics and warehousing industries.
“It also increases employment opportunities in countries and cities along its route and has become an important support for ensuring the stability of the global supply chain and promoting industrial integration and innovative development,” said Noche.
“The collaborative Belt and Road Initiative and the synergistic effects brought about by the China-Europe Railway Express significantly increases commercial activities, bringing new development opportunities to important transit points and cargo distribution centers in countries such as Germany, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.”
As an example, Noche noted that food products from Kazakhstan can be exported to Western Europe or China via the railway express, and research in Kyrgyzstan “found that many people are interested in participating in the BRI, bringing local products and ideas to strive for inclusion.”
After undergoing industrial transformation, Duisburg has transitioned from a steel city to a transportation port, becoming one of the most frequented, highest-volume and highest-value European hubs for the operation of the China-Europe Railway Express.
Duisport Group data indicates transportation time for the China-Europe Railway Express connecting Chinese cities with Duisburg ranges from 12 to 18 days. Approximately 60 ChinaEurope Railway Express trains arrive in Duisburg each week, and the goods carried by them are then shipped to other ports in Germany and neighboring European countries.