On 17 July, Sandra Géhénot, UIC Freight Director, was invited to participate in the First Eurasian Connectivity and Industrial Cooperation Forum in Zhengzhou, China. The Forum was jointly organised by the People’s Government of Zhengzhou and FERRMED.

The main goal of the event was to identify the key issues to be solved in the Trans-Eurasian corridors and terminals for an efficient development of the European and Eurasian railway system, with particular regard to the “Silk Road” in the framework of the One Belt, One Road initiative (OBOR).

The wide attendance encompassed dignitaries from the municipality of Zhengzhou, representatives from PKP Cargo, FELB, Hupac, CCTT, UIRR, logistics companies, universities, representatives from the Chinese cities of Wuhan, Chengdu and Chongqing, representatives from the Port of Hamburg and European cities, the World bank, SLoCaT and representatives of EU mission to China, to name but a few.

The one-day conference was followed by a guided tour at the Urban Planning Department which provided an insight into Zhengzhou’s multimodal offer with its international airport (including cargo) and included a visit to the intermodal rail hub. This very dynamic town is situated at the crossroads of the Chinese rail network and counts one of the largest highspeed stations in the country.

On 18 July, UIC and FERRMED were invited to strengthen their cooperation with the city of Zhengzhou through the signature of a Letter of Intent to promote cooperation in railway transportation and technology under the framework of China-EU regional policy cooperation mechanism.

Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, Director General of UIC, welcomed this initiative and said: “This collaboration with FERRMED and the city of Zhengzhou is an important step in the work done by UIC on the approach to OBOR corridors.”