China-Europe Railway Express Paves "Fast Track" for Economic and Trade Exchanges

 

 

On September 7, a busy scene at the CR Intermodal Zhengzhou Central Station. Poland, as a European core hub of the China-Europe Railway Express, maintains close cooperation with Zhengzhou.

Approximately 90% of China-Europe freight trains either arrive in or transit through Poland, helping Zhengzhou build a high-level inland open network that connects over 40 countries. (Photo by Nie Donghan)

 

 

"The first direct freight train from Warsaw to China has departed." On the morning of September 8, local time, our newspaper's Poland-based reporting team delivered this exciting news.

On the same day, Henan Zhongyu International Port Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement with PKP Cargo Connect. Meanwhile, a China-Europe freight train (Warsaw-Zhengzhou) loaded with goods headed east toward Henan, the heartland of Central China. This move is making the Henan-Poland cooperation closer than ever and marking a new phase in collaboratively enhancing the efficiency of the China-Poland-Europe multimodal transport corridor.

As a crucial gateway for China-Europe freight trains to and from Europe, Poland occupies a key position in the Eurasian logistics network. Data shows that approximately 90% of China-Europe freight trains either arrive in or transit through Poland, with its unique geographical advantages perfectly aligned with Henan's strategic aim of building a high-level inland open hub.

Since the launch of the first direct China-Europe freight train from Katowice, Poland, to Zhengzhou in 2021, distinctive Polish products such as cheese and ham have continuously enriched the lives of Henan residents, while quality goods from Henan have also capitalized on these rail connections to access the European market. Currently, bilateral trade cooperation spans multiple sectors including automobiles, food, power, and aluminum. Additionally, leveraging Poland's logistics advantage, which offers 24-hour coverage to 90% of European countries, Henan enterprises have made significant investments in Poland. This has effectively stimulated local industrial growth, boosted employment, and continuously allowed them to continually broaden their business footprint in Europe.

The official launch of the Warsaw-Zhengzhou China-Europe freight train service also signals a new "dual hub" development phase for the Henan-Poland cooperation.

Piotr Sadza, Chairman of the Management Board of PKP Cargo Connect, stated that high-quality Polish products such as juice, dairy items, and chocolate carried by the train are widely popular in the Chinese market. He emphasized that this development would not only enrich the range of trade between the two countries but also encourage both sides to expand a broader railway network based on the Warsaw-Zhengzhou route, further strengthening economic, trade, and logistics cooperation.

"The successful launch of the Warsaw-Zhengzhou China-Europe freight train service represents a new breakthrough in the development of the China-Europe Railway Express and, more importantly, a milestone in deepening the Henan-Poland cooperation,” stated Jin Lei, Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman, and General Manager of Henan Zhongyu International Port Group Co., Ltd. “In the future, both sides will leverage Zhengzhou and Warsaw as 'dual hubs' to inject new impetus into bilateral economic and trade development and enhance the well-being of their peoples."

As the saying goes, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." From the coordinated advancement of railway intermodal transport to the deep integration of economic and trade industries, and vibrant cultural exchanges, Henan and Poland are making steady progress in their bilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework, showcasing a dynamic bilateral commitment that overcomes geographical barriers.

 

 

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