New freight route connects China and Serbia
A new freight route between China and Serbia has started operating. The route connects the Chinese province of Hebei with Serbia’s capital Belgrade. The train service aims to increase connectivity between Europe and China as...Read more
Why is the U.S. gaining momentum in financing African railway projects?
ANALYSISThe discussion regarding increasing rail competition between the U.S. and China in Africa is not new. Recent months have seen the unfolding of U.S.-led initiatives to finance and develop railway projects of great freight significance...Read more
Kyrgyzstan struggles to find money for CKU line construction
Kyrgyzstan is looking for money to build its part of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway line. In an interview about the country’s debt situation, the president reassured the people that no unfeasible loans would be taken....Read more
End titles: Italy walks out of BRI agreement with China
The Italian government has officially announced that it is leaving China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The agreement binding the two countries within BRI would end in March 2024. However, Italy informed the Chinese side...Read more
Controversy grows over China’s BRI investment in Pakistan
China has allegedly rejected a Belt and Road investment plan proposed by Pakistan. The proposal targeted adding more components to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. The Pakistani Ministry of Planning Development & Special Activities...Read more
Five Silk Road connections added to fixed timetable
Five China-Europe rail connections have now been integrated into a fixed timetable by China Railways and will now be running on a weekly basis. Three of them concern westbound services, while the remaining two are...Read more
China’s new 50-foot containers unlikely to be used on Silk Road
China has started using 50-foot containers for rail freight transportation. Currently, this is the largest container size in the Chinese logistic market, weighing 36 tonnes. Compared to the 40-foot container, the 50-foot container has a...Read moreItalian Deputy Prime Minister says Parliament is keen on leaving BRI
Antonio Tajani, the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, claimed that “the large part of the Italian Parliament is in favour of withdrawing” from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He added...Read more
Free Webinar: It’s time to talk about this year’s Silk Road
This year is certainly not easy for rail freight forwarders focusing on transportation between China and Europe. The northern route crossing Russia becomes even more complicated as the sanctions tighten. Meanwhile, the demand from Europe...Read more
G20 confirms US and EU ambitions for major new Eurasian corridor
The recent G20 summit in India functioned as a platform to unfold the ambitious plans of a new economic and transport corridor in the context of the G7-EU-led Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment initiative....Read more
Italy: Government and industry might not be on the same page on BRI
The situation concerning Italy and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is getting hotter as the deadline to make a decision approaches. Over the weekend, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani said that...Read more
‘BRI adhesion does bring economic advantages for Italy’
The narrative surrounding Italy’s adhesion to the Belt and Road Initiative insists that it did not bring significant advantages for the country, since China did not significantly increase its investments there. However, the initiative did...Read more
Will Italy announce BRI exit this week?
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will meet US President Joe Biden in the White House on Thursday 27 July. One of the topics that will be discussed will be “closer transatlantic coordination regarding the People’s...Read more
Pakistan on track to become the new Persian Gulf gateway via rail
ANALYSISThe race to acquire a place in global supply chains is intensifying, and Pakistan seems committed to getting a good position. The South Asian country is on track to launch two railway projects, which are...Read more
Sanctions on China amidst Taiwan crisis: the next logistics puzzle to solve?
INTERVIEWWhat would happen in the case of an escalated Taiwan crisis? Would the West impose sanctions on China just like it did on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine? And how would such a development...Read more
‘Italy and China can have a solid relationship even without the BRI’
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that Italy and China can have a great relationship even if the agreement for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is not renewed. In addition, Meloni claimed that she...Read more
US-China competition increases in Africa with rail in its epicentre
ANALYSISA more cautious Chinese policy for rail infrastructure investments in Africa and a rebound interest in them by the US might see the two states racing each other to build rail links and secure the...Read more
When rail turns into leverage: U.S. ramps up international investments
ANALYSISFor years, China has been the leading investor in many countries in the context of the BRI, which sees cash flows in foreign markets primarily taking the form of rail and infrastructure investments. The EU...Read more
Argentina turns to China for rolling stock, railway building and investments in Yuan
The Argentinian transport ministry strives to secure Chinese investments in passenger and freight wagons and commence railway infrastructure works worth 862 million US dollars. At the same time, Argentina seeks ways to enable direct Chinese...Read more