China Railways and Russian Railways sign comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement

According to Russian Railways and all parties, the agreement clearly states that both parties agree to accelerate the implementation of the second railway trunk line project with a track gauge of 1435mm (standard gauge) at the Zabaikalsk-Manzhouli border crossing. This should be a major progress in the railway cooperation between the two countries.

In addition, the agreement also includes: developing the existing railway border crossings between Russia and China and the infrastructure leading to these crossings; promoting the development of regular container trains for mail and e-commerce cargo transportation; increasing the transportation of frozen meat and poultry products in refrigerated containers; increasing grain freight to China through the Zabaikalsk-Manzhouli border crossing, including loading at the Zabaikalsk grain terminal.

The document was signed after the meeting between Russian Railways General Manager and Chairman of the Management Committee Belozerov and China Railway Group Chairman Liu Zhenfang in Beijing during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China. According to Belozerov, "We have seen a rapid growth in freight volume between Russia and China. In the first quarter, the total freight volume through the railway border ports and ports of the two countries increased by 8.2% compared with the same period in 2023, reaching 42.5 million tons." Liu Zhenfang said that China Railway will earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and the joint statement of the two countries, and work together with Russian Railways to take more pragmatic and powerful measures to deepen cooperation in the railway field on the basis of existing cooperation results, improve cross-border infrastructure, innovate international railway transportation rules, improve port traffic efficiency and channel transportation guarantee capabilities, enhance the digital level of China-Russia railway freight intermodal transport, further promote high-quality development of international intermodal transport, build a stable, smooth and sustainable development of logistics corridors, and make new contributions to deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Russia in the new era. According to Beijing Daily, the China-Russia joint statement mentioned that the efficiency of port inspection and customs clearance should be improved to ensure smooth two-way passenger and cargo exchanges. Belozerov said that Russia and China are focusing on developing the infrastructure of the existing four railway ports to improve operational efficiency. The new container terminal at the Zabaikalsk railway checkpoint was put into operation in 2022, and the construction of all supporting facilities at the port will be completed in 2026. Work is underway to increase the capacity of the Grodekovo-Suifenhe and Makhalino-Huanchun border crossings. The Nizhneleninskoye-Tongjiang railway bridge crossing, which was put into operation at the end of 2022, has now reached the planned traffic volume, with 5 trains passing through it every day.

Belozerov said that the priority direction of China-Russia railway cooperation is transportation digitization, including customs electronic document management, promotion of advanced digital radio communication technology, and expansion of cargo transportation. In addition, the railway industries of the two countries have a strong interest in the introduction of the latest communication standards, the construction of railway infrastructure and the improvement of operating technology.