China to speed up bullet-train connectivity with neighbours

China will further enhance connectivity with other countries by expanding its high-speed railway network, a senior politician pledged on Tuesday.

The country intends to promote both the “hard connectivity” of infrastructure and the “soft connectivity” of standards and rules to position high-speed rail as a cornerstone for advancing the nation’s Belt and Road Initiative, Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing said at the opening ceremony of the 12th World Congress on High-Speed Rail in Beijing.

“China is committed to implementing both major projects and smaller, people-centred initiatives that deliver tangible benefits,” Zhang said at the event, which has become a global showcase for high-speed developments and technology.

“In carrying out high-speed rail projects abroad, we will enhance support for infrastructure and skills training to better benefit people in all countries.”

Beijing will continue to advance major landmark rail projects – such as the Hungary-Serbia railway, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, and the China-Thailand railway – while participating in the formulation of international railway standards, Zhang added.

Marking China’s first high-speed rail entry into Europe, the Hungary-Serbia route is designed to connect the two countries’ respective capitals, Budapest and Belgrade, and part of the line in Serbia has been operational since 2022. The full route is expected to be completed by 2026, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said earlier this year.

The project, particularly the Hungarian section, has also faced scrutiny from the European Union, which is increasingly wary of China’s growing influence in the region.