将重庆的心跳传向欧亚大陆——渝新欧国际班列开通五周年回望

□ 文/本刊记者 曾睿



将重庆的心跳传向欧亚大陆
——渝新欧国际班列开通五周年回望

□ 文/本刊记者 曾睿

2016年1月4日下午，冬日的山城，中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平来到重庆两江新区果园港视察，当他得知渝新欧国际班列运营情况良好，渝新欧国际铁路沿线国家实现一次报关查验、全线放行，他称赞说：“挺好”。

一时间，“渝新欧”随着总书记的称赞成为海内外关注重庆、乃至关注中国内陆开放的热点词汇，它的前世今生都成为关注重庆和关注中国经济发展的人们视线所聚集的焦点。人们不仅看到了一条连通欧亚、涉及亚欧六国的快速陆上通道，更看到了以重庆为代表的中国内陆地区不断扩大开放、创新发展的勃勃生机。

“渝新欧”是指从重庆出发到欧洲的国际铁路货运专线，经新疆阿拉山口口岸，进入哈萨克斯坦，再转俄罗斯、白俄罗斯、波兰，至德国杜伊斯堡，全程11179公里，是由沿途6个国家铁路、海关共同协调建立的铁路运输通道。该大通道被外界称为中国“第三条欧亚大陆桥”（俗称“南线”），该班列被称为“黄金班列”。

“渝新欧”对重庆的更重要意义还在于，作为“渝新欧”起点的重庆西部物流园与流经重庆的长江黄金水道、重庆机场共同集合成中国内陆独有的聚合枢纽、口岸、保税区功能的水、铁、空三个“三合一”开放平台，让重庆这个内陆山城的经济外向度比肩东部沿海，“走出去”与“发展外向型经济”在重庆这个世界知名的内陆城市成为潮流。由此，难以计数的人们投身国际贸易、跨境电商等这些以前与重庆似乎“有距离”的行业，这些行业又涉及了数以万计的企业和数十万个就业机会，重庆甚至很快诞生了“大龙网”这样的国际性跨境电商标杆企业，这反过来又带动了更多热情的重庆人投身其中。重庆人从未感受到与世界的距离如此之近。

值此“渝新欧”国际联运大通道成功开通五周年之际，本刊特编发本组稿件，回顾“渝新欧”诞生过程与五年间的跨越发展，期待在“十三五”期间，“渝新欧”能够为重庆的对外开放、重庆的内陆开放高地建设、在“一带一路”和长江经济带建设中起好推动作用作出更大贡献。

连通欧亚获总书记点赞

2016年1月4日至6日，中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平调研渝新欧国际铁路起点—重庆。冬日的山城，寒气中和着丝丝暖意。1月4日下午，习近平来到两江新区果园港听取长江上游航运中心建设、现代化港口群布局、铁路公路水路联运、渝新欧国际铁路开行等情况介绍，了解重庆推动长江经济带发展和“一带一路”建设、扩大内陆地区开放开发以及功能区生态文明建设情况。得知渝新欧班列运营情况良好，渝新欧国际铁路沿线国家实现一次报关查验、全线放行，他赞赏“挺好”。习近平很高兴，要求重庆完善各个开放平台，建设内陆国际物流枢纽和口岸高地，建设内陆开放高地。

这已经不是连通欧亚大陆的渝新欧第一次得到习近平总书记的赞誉：德国西部北威州的杜伊斯堡是由渝新欧国际铁路联运大通道的终点，早在2014年3月，习近平总书记就曾经在这里亲自迎接了一列从中国重庆驶来的渝新欧货运列车。德国媒体当时报道称，当地时间2014年3月29日下午，习近平在杜伊斯堡迎接的这列列车总长达750米，从重庆始发，耗时16天、驶过10300公里的路程，途经哈萨克斯坦、俄罗斯等国，最终抵达杜伊斯堡。当时每周最多，3班渝新欧铁路列车要经过这样的旅程。

在杜伊斯堡，习近平还表示，中方提出建设丝绸之路经济带倡议，秉承共同发展、共同繁荣的理念，联动亚欧两大市场，赋予古丝绸之路新的时代内涵，造福沿途各国人民。中德位于丝绸之路经济带两端，是亚欧两大经济体和增长极，也是渝新欧铁路的起点和终点。两国应该加强合作，推进丝绸之路经济带建设。杜伊斯堡港是世界最大内河港和欧洲重要交通物流枢纽，希望它能为促进中德、中欧合作发展发挥更大作用。

世界五百强倒逼催生

随着中国改革开放的不断深入，具有反常规、逆向促动意味的“倒逼”“倒逼机制”这样的词汇也越来越多地被人们所熟悉，谁能想到，“渝新欧”构想的提出，也很有些“倒逼”的味道，而且是被一家世界知名的世界500强企业倒逼。对此过程，重庆市市长黄奇帆在一次接受记者采访时有过很明确的表述，当时，有记者问黄奇帆：“建设‘渝新欧’大通道的创意，是怎样产生出来的？大致经过了多长时间的酝酿？整个过程是如何推进的？”

黄奇帆回答说：将货物从南线欧亚大陆桥运到欧洲，这个题目是惠普出给我们的。早在2009年，我跟惠普高层就讨论过这个问题。当时惠普将每年5000万台电脑的产能，放在上海，3000万台打印机及通信设备的产能，放在深圳和江浙一带。

黄奇帆回忆：当时重庆很想吸引惠普这样的企业，为此，他本人向惠普高层阐述了三个概念，第一个概念，全球笔记本电脑产量将翻番，新增的产量应布局在重庆。第二个概念，重庆承诺吸引零部件厂商到重庆来。如果3年内不能做到80%的零部件在重庆本地生产配套，导致企业的成本增加，重庆包赔。电脑生产出来了，要运出去，运费增加了怎么办？惠普销往欧美的产品，航空可以解决一部分运输的问题，飞机从上海或从重庆飞到美国，成本差不多。另一方面，他想到了重庆有铁路直通欧洲。但没有想到惠普方面却告诉他，10年前惠普就曾想把货物通过南线欧亚大陆桥，从上海运到欧洲去，但运输过程中他们发现，存在运费高、时间长、货物不安全等诸多问题。总之，这条线行不通。紧接着，黄奇帆马上向惠普阐述了第三个概念：（把货物通过南线欧大陆桥运到欧洲去）这件事情由重庆政府出面协调，加以解决。

摄影：刘汪洋

紧接着，重庆方面紧锣密鼓地找到中国铁路及海关部门，得到他们的大力支持，把沿线各国的铁路、海关部门请到重庆来，开会商议。重庆市政府还专门在市经济和信息化委员会下，设立了一个物流协调办公室，负责协调解决“渝新欧”中出现的问题。与此同时，惠普也开始从线路的另一端来进行推动：2010年8月30日，由德国铁路牵头，在德国柏林召开了欧亚铁路会议。重庆首次建立了与辛克、TEL（德铁和俄铁的合资企业）等机构的联系。其后，重庆方面又陆续建立起了与俄罗斯、哈萨克斯坦等国铁路公司及沿线国家政府部门的联系，并形成了“五国六方联席会议”的多边磋商机制。

多国多边的国际磋商，反复博弈与延宕时日原属正常，何况是“五国六方”。2015年年末，一位全程参与了这一浩大工程的老领导，被问到这一过程时仍脱口而出：那真是几天几夜都说不完。一如黄奇帆市长在接受记者采访时所坦言的那样：“当时，我们对协调这件事，到底有多难，其实并不清楚。”当年参与其事的重庆方面的领导和工作人员们的焦急与压力，由此可见一斑。

大国外交推动正式开通

外交是一个国家综合国力的延伸，国家不断壮大的国际影响力，又常常能够直接促进国际间经贸文化合作。渝新欧多边磋商的顺利进行和正式开通，也正是得到中国国家大国外交的直接推动。

当磋商的各方都在焦头烂额焦急异常的时候，“渝新欧”的前期磋商被中国在大国外交国际舞台上的又一次精彩亮相所强力推动：应时任俄罗斯联邦政府总理普京、时任塔吉克斯坦共和国总理阿基洛夫邀请，时任中国国务院总理温家宝于2010年11月22日至25日先后对俄罗斯联邦进行正式访问并举行中俄总理第15次定期会晤、对塔吉克斯坦共和国进行正式访问并出席在杜尚别举行的上海合作组织成员国第九次总理会议。2010年11月23日，在温家宝访问俄罗斯期间，中国、俄罗斯、哈萨克斯坦3国联合签署了两项海关便捷通关协议。协议确定，3国海关对从重庆发出，通过新疆阿拉山口，途经哈萨克斯坦、俄罗斯的货物，只进行一次海关检查，不必重复关检，就可以运往荷兰、德国。

虽然早在2010年10月，重庆市政府就与铁道部进行了“渝新欧”五定班列国内段试运行，这次测试证实了国内段线路通行的连续性，满载了40车皮2800吨货物的列车不停不靠，从重庆火车西站径直开到了阿拉山口。但由于多国多边磋商漫长复杂，在那之后就一直没有更进一步的成果。就在两项海关便捷通关协议的签署后不久的2011年1月28日，“渝新欧”进行了第二次测试，将重庆力帆的摩托车配件，及少量惠普和宏碁的电子产品，运到了俄罗斯。与国内测试不同，这次测试有两条线路：第一线路为“重庆—乌鲁木齐—阿拉山口—十月城—依列茨克—莫斯科”，全程8129公里，预计运行11天；第二线路为“重庆—乌鲁木齐—阿拉山口—十月城—阿斯特拉罕—切尔克斯克”，全程8340公里，预计运行11天。这次测试面临的最大困难是气温，因为试运行特意挑选了最寒冷的日子，专列上安装了重庆自主研发的测试仪器，测试运输过程中电子产品、仪表设备等在高寒状态下的适应能力。

在两次试运行的基础上，“渝新欧”国际铁路联运班列终于在2011年3月19日实现首次全程运行，列车载着惠普在重庆生产的电子产品，从重庆团结村始发，至阿拉山口后，经过哈萨克斯坦、俄罗斯、白俄罗斯、波兰，开行16天，顺利抵达德国的杜伊斯堡，圆满地实现了“渝新欧”国际铁路大通道的全线开行。

西部物流园远景 摄影：刘汪洋

“铁海同价”成为“三个三合一”重要一极

要成为一条名副其实的连通亚洲和欧洲两个大陆的运输“大动脉”与“主动脉”、中欧铁路的主通道，运输费用与运行时间等经济指标无疑是各界关注的焦点。据专家测算，“渝新欧”给各国货主“最佳印象”应当是“相对于空运，‘渝新欧’班列价格更便宜；相对于海运，运输时间更短但运价却相差无几”。要达到这一“最佳印象”，渝新欧最理想的箱公里运输价格（每个集装箱每公里的运价）应该在0.6～0.5美元，即与海运运输价格基本持平，达到“铁海同价”。而在“渝新欧”开行之初，这一数字高达1美元。

增加回程货物、达到双向平衡降低成本是降低运价的重中之重。2013年3月18日，“渝新欧”首趟回程班列抵达重庆团结村中心站，开创了欧洲货物由铁路经阿拉山口入境中国的先河，实现回程“零突破”；2014年度，“渝新欧”回程班列成功开行22班；而到了2015年，“渝新欧”全年开行班列257班中回程已达101班，回程平均2班/周，高峰时期5班/周，是所有中欧班列里开行频率最高、双向开行频率最稳定的。按照最新公布的信息，“渝新欧”班列2016年预计总开行量将突破300班，回程班列也将在2015年101班的基础上有进一步的突破。

与此同时，通过与沿线各国海关已建立“一卡通”通行模式，优化路线、提高运速，全程运行时间已由16天缩短至13天，比从长江水运至上海再海运至欧洲节约30天以上。

货源结构也在这一过程中不断调整，突破创新：据日前公布的统计数据显示，2015年“渝新欧”承运的商品中，IT产品和非IT产品各占50%。其中，去程货源包括笔电、服装、日用品、咖啡豆等多个品类，回程货源包括汽车整车及零部件、化妆品、啤酒、母婴用品等。精密仪表仪器、化工原料、冷链食品等，也开始出现在“渝新欧”运输商品名录上，甚至还开通过后谷咖啡专列、跨境电商货物。此前颇有些“高大上”的“渝新欧”迅速和山城市民亲近了起来。

正是在“渝新欧”不断提档升级的过程中，各国货主最为关注的“渝新欧”的箱公里运输价格，成功地在2015年4月降至0.55美元左右，全面实现运输价格与同期海运价格基本持平。“开行频率高、运行速度快、辐射能力强、通关便捷高效、良好的服务品质”已成“渝新欧”的优势品牌。据不完全统计，目前国内中欧班列有21条线路，国内开行城市已达12个，截至2015年10月底，这些班列已开行1058趟，直通欧洲12个国家的相关城市。重庆市经信委2016年1月对外发布的消息称：从2011年开通到2015年底，渝新欧共开行490班，运输41698箱货物，班列数在中欧班列中占比45%，货值约100亿美元，占比80%。班列数量、运行速度、货值和货量均居中欧班列首位。

更为重要的是，过去几年，重庆依托渝新欧先后获得了国家铁路一类口岸、优惠运价以及运输国际邮包等一系列政策支持，形成了三个“三合一”开放平台。同时，重庆加快推进了汽车整车口岸建设。重庆在中国西部内陆地区率先获得了整车口岸资质。2014年8月起，已经陆续进口整车372辆，欧洲八大主流汽车品牌已引进了5个。这对于重庆内陆开放高地建设的重要性不言而喻。

展望：将重庆的心跳传向欧亚大陆

有数据显示，目前长江沿线地区发运量占“渝新欧”外地发运量的40%左右。“渝新欧”货运班列开通，让重庆正在成为长江上游地区综合交通枢纽和国际贸易大通道的起点城市。“渝新欧”也已逐渐从仅服务重庆产业结构调整，上升为服务西南、长三角、珠三角地区的中欧贸易大通道。“渝新欧”已经不再仅仅属于重庆。而与这一转变同期提升的，则是重庆经济外向度接近百分之五十，重庆不沿边不靠海，却悄然间从内陆腹地站上了开放高地，比肩东部沿海地区。

在“十二五”时期，重庆抓住经济全球化机遇构建的以“渝新欧”国际班列为代表的大通道、大通关、大平台体系基本成型，重庆建立起了航空、铁路、内河港三个交通枢纽、三个国家开放口岸、三个保税监管区“三个三合一”的开放要件，特别是在“一带一路”和长江经济带国家战略提出后，重庆作为中国内陆开放高地已成为广泛共识，截至“十二五”末，渝新欧铁路累计开行490班，货物种类和辐射范围持续拓展，成为中欧陆上贸易主通道。对于重庆而言，“渝新欧”彻底改变了重庆内向型经济结构，对于重庆发展世界性产业集群、成为内陆地区的开放高地功不可没。有人很形象地称之为：将重庆的心跳传向欧亚大陆。

重庆市经济和信息化委员会主任郭坚在接受媒体采访时曾公开表示，“渝新欧”国际班列的成功之处在于：首先是体制上的问题，四国五方合资成立了渝新欧公司，这是体制上的突破；第二个是基础货量，搞得好不好要市场说了算，重庆有电子和汽车两大支柱产业做保证，如果没有那么大的货量和价值量，这条通道的效率和价值就体现不出来；还有就是和重庆的地理位置有关，集聚辐射周边的能力强。

记者注意到，在2016年1月重庆两会上通过的《重庆市国民经济和社会发展第十三个五年规划纲要》中，对于重庆进一步的对外开放和“渝新欧”的建设发展有着如下的叙述：

积极融入国家“一带一路”和长江经济带等对外开放和区域发展重大战略，充分利用国际国内两个市场、两种资源，对外开放广度深度进一步拓展，构建起大通道、大通关、大平台开放体系，形成内陆地区独有的“三个三合一”开发那个平台，“渝新欧”国际联运大通道成为中欧陆上贸易主通道……

“十三五”期间，将提升和完善“渝新欧”国际联运大通道功能，提高利用效率，增加开行密度，打造内陆地区连接丝绸之路经济带的国际贸易主通道。完善班列运行机制，提升物流信息化水平，优化通关便利化措施，布局完善境内外分拨点和仓储中心，强化长江经济带周边地区、华南地区以及沿线国家和地区货物组织，积极拓展跨国邮包运输和旅游贸易通道，全面增强国际物流集散功能，塑造国际物流品牌。充分利用渝新欧国际联运大通道，促进国际产能合作，推进总部贸易和转口贸易发展，培育跨境电商等新兴产业，努力抢占内陆开放制高点……

祝愿渝新欧国际班列在未来的日子里，不仅继续成为重庆对外开放的名片，持续不断地将重庆乃至整个中国的经济心跳传向欧亚大陆与世界各地，为重庆乃至整个中国内陆地区经济的转型升级、国家“一带一路”和长江经济带两大战略的成功实施发挥出更大的作用！

观点

重庆市经济与信息化委员会主任郭坚

2016年要进一步增强渝新欧国际班列的辐射集聚能力，要把重庆周边的货物集聚在重庆，通过“渝新欧”去欧洲，并且在沿线的国家建分拨点，把运过去的货物向周边国家分拨，同时，更要从那边争取更多的返程货物运过来，这是一个大的战略，是不会变的。只有这样才能进一步降低运营成本、缩短运营时间、提高运行质量，更好地服务国家“一带一路”和长江经济带战略，将渝新欧国际班列与设立在重庆的中国新加坡第三个政府间合作项目考虑，甚至与未来“泛亚铁路”联系考虑，都是完全有可能的。对于“渝新欧”下一步的发展，本着创新性的工作方式，不要人为设置条条框框，只要是以企业为主体，由市场配置资源，“凡事皆有可能”！

市委统战部副部长、市工商联（总商会）党组书记蒋平

直辖以来，重庆民营经济持续保持快速发展势头,为全市经济发展作出了重要贡献。重庆企业历来有“走出去”的传统，随着重庆内陆开放高地建设的加速推进，越来越多的重庆企业和重庆人走出国门，参与国际竞争。截至2015年上半年，重庆累计对外投资企业达到298家，这其中重庆的民营企业占了很大的比例，“一带一路”和长江经济带战略公布、“三个三合一”口岸成型这些信息更令重庆民营企业“走出去”的热情高涨。随着“渝新欧”回程货物数量和种类的不断丰富，在跨境电商这样的现代服务业里面，占主要比例的全部都是民营经济。我们早已经关注到这些现象，2016年，我们将进一步加强对“一带一路”沿线国家以及“渝新欧”沿线国家商务信息和商业环境的了解与整合，更好地为希望参与其中的民营企业服务。

渝新欧物流公司总经理漆丹

从2016年1月1日起，渝新欧物流公司将作为渝新欧铁路唯一的货源组织平台，“渝新欧”的运营管理将更高效，有助于“渝新欧”辐射范围扩大，班次也将增多，预计2016年开行量在350班以上，全年几乎天天有班列。同时，重庆正成为国内部分省市的货运集散地。今年要做到300班以上，争取天天班。把重庆真正带动起来，“渝新欧”不仅仅是“一带一路”上的先行者，要让它领航者、领军者的地位更加牢固。

重庆国际战略研究院秘书长杨柏

渝新欧国际班列无疑是国家层面的亚欧互联互通战略的具体体现，对于亚欧经济、文化沟通交往都有很重要的意义。众所周知，习近平主席在谈到亚欧互联互通时，用“五通”共建“丝绸之路经济带”倡议其中的政策沟通、道路联通、贸易畅通、货币流通、民心相通中，最重要的是“民心相通”，他认为“民心相通”是前面4个“通”的基础，“民心相通”就是“人心相通”，能够最大程度地避免产生误解，是真正互联互通的保障。我认为，已经成功开通并运行了5年之久的“渝新欧”在建设和经济指标上无疑已经取得了巨大成就，下一步还可以在促进亚欧，特别是促进中国内陆地区与中亚和中东欧地区交流上发挥特殊作用。

重庆市沙坪坝区发展与改革委员会主任代建红

作为“渝新欧”起点所在地的沙坪坝区，将不断优化提升口岸功能，依托渝新欧中欧陆上大通道发展“临铁经济”、打造“临铁经济带”，拓展完善现有口岸功能。结合沙坪坝区自身产业发展需求及“渝新欧”大通道沿线国家的进出口货源需求，在原有铁路口岸、汽车整车进口等口岸功能的基础上，进一步向国家积极争取拓展进境植物种苗、原木、食品、药品及肉类、废杂铜、医疗设备指定口岸等功能，不断丰富口岸多元化内涵，为区内进出口贸易搭建良好发展平台，有效解决“渝新欧”回程货物不足问题；大力推进国际邮件互换中心项目，争取设立欧洲商品展示交易中心和大宗商品期货交割库，不断拓展口岸延伸经济，力争打造内陆地区核心离境口岸。

大事纪（根据公开新闻报道收集整理）

大事纪（根据公开新闻报道收集整理）

In the afternoon of January 4th, 2016, Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, State President, and the President of Central Military Commission came to the Liangjiang New District of Chongqing to inspect Orchard Port. When he heard about that the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe international trains are in good state of operation, and the countries along the railway have achieved one-time customs inspection, smooth in the all line, he said happily: “ very good.”

Suddenly, with the compliment of President Xi Jinping,“Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” has become a hot word that appeal to the attention of home and abroad to Chongqing, even the opening of inland China. This word has always been becoming the focus for people who pay attention to Chongqing and China’s economic development since it comes into being. From this railway, people can not only see a rapid land passage that connects Asia with Europe, involving 6 countries in Asia and Europe, but also see the thriving vitality of inland China, representing by Chongqing in terms of opening up and innovative development.

“Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” refers to an international railway transportation line that starts from Chongqing to Europe, passing by the port of Alataw Pass of Xinjiang, entering into Kazakhstan, then to Russia, The Republic of Belarus, Poland and to Duisburg of Germany, with the whole length of 11179 kilometers; and this railway line is a railway transportation channel that is established cooperatively by national railways and custom houses of 6 countries along the railway. This railway line is called China’s “The third Eurasia Land Bridge” (also called “Southern Line”), and this train is known as “Golden Train”.

As the origin of Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe, the logistics park of Chongqing’s western absorption band, together with golden waterway of Yangtze River that flows through Chongqing, and Chongqing’s airport form an opening platform with the functions of aggregation hub, port and bonded area that integrating water, iron with air, which is unique in inland China and keeps the economic extroversion of Chongqing, the mountain city in inland China abreast with the eastern coastal area. Then “going out” and “developing export-oriented economy” have become the trend in Chongqing, the famous inland city. A number of people engage in some business industries that are seemed impossible in Chongqing before, such as, international trade, cross-border E-commerce and so on, and all of these industries promote the appearance of numerous enterprises and bring hundreds of thousands of job opportunities.

Some benchmarking e n t e r p r i s e s, s u c h a s“DinoDirect”, the international cross-border E-commerce have appeared in Chongqing, which in return encourages more enthusiastic Chongqing people to engage in these industries.Chongqing people never feel that they are so close to the world before.

On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the successful opening of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international train, the magazine edits and writes these articles to retrospect the birth and fi ve-year spanning development of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” to expect more contribution that “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” can bring to Chongqing, in terms of opening up, the inland construction and the construction of “One Belt and One Road” and Yangtze River Economic Zone during the period of “the 13th Five-Year Plan”.

President Praises the Connection between Asia and Europe

From January 4 to January 6 of 2016, Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, State President, the President of Central Military Commission investigate and survey the start point of Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe international railway——Chongqing. The mountain city in winter can bring people warm feeling in the cold air. In the afternoon of January 4, Xi Jinping came to the Orchard Port of Liangjiang New District to listen to the presentation of the construction of the shipping center of the upper reachesof Yangtze River, the layout of modern port group, the through traffi c of railway, highway and waterway, the running of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international railway, and to know about the corresponding information, such as, Chongqing’s booming to the development of Yangtze River Economic Zone, the construction of “One Belt and One Road”, the opening and development of inland areas and the ecological civilization construction of functional zones. When Presedent Xi Jinping heard about that the“Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international trains are in good state of operation, and the countries along the railway have achieved one-time customs inspection, smooth in the all line, he said happily:“ very good.” Xi Jinping requested that Chongqing should make it’s every platform for opening up perfect in order to construct inland international logistics hub and port and inland highland for opening up.

This is not the first time for Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe that connects Europe with Asia to obtain the compliment of President Xi Jinping. Duisburg in the western Germany Westfalen is the terminal point of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international railway. Early in March, 2014, President Xi Jinping came here to welcome the “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe”freight train that started from China’s Chongqing in person. The Germany newspapers reported that in the afternoon of March 29, 2014, Xi Jinping welcomed the 750-meter long train that started from Chongqing, spent 16 days, drove 10300 meters, past through Kazakhstan, Russia and other countries, and fi nally arrived in Duisburg. At that time, at most 3 “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe”freight trains would experience such kind of journey at every week.

In Duisburg, Xi Jinping also expressed that China has proposed the initiative of Silk Road Economic Belt under the concept of mutual development and mutual prosperity, in order to connect Asia with Europe, the two big markets, to endow the ancient silk road with new age meaning, and thus to bring happiness to the people along the road. China and Germany are located at the two ends of the Silk Road Economic Belt, and they are two big economic entities and growth poles of Asia and Europe, also are the start point and terminal point of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe”international railway respectively. So, the two countries should strengthen cooperation, and boost the construction of Silk Road Economic Belt. Duisburg harbor is the biggest inland port in the world and the important transportation logistics hub in Europe, so we hope it would exert more effects to promote the cooperative development between China and Germany, China and Europe.

Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Came into being under the Forcing of Top 500 Enterprises

With the continuous deepening of China’s reform and opening up, the words, such as “forcing”, “forcing mechanisms” that have the meaning of unconventional and reverse promotion are more familiar to people. Nobody has ever thought that the initiative of Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe has something with “forcing”, and it was forced by one of the well-known top 500 enterprises in the world. As for the process, Huang Qifan, the mayor of Chongqing, expressed explicitly once in a press interview, and at that time, some journalists asked Huang Qifan: “How did the initiative to construct ‘Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe’ international railway come into being? How long did it take to be planned? What did you do to promote the initiative? ”

Huang Qifan answered: the problem that transporting goods to Europe through Eurasia Land Bridge in the Southern front was given by HP. Early in the 2009, I have discussed this problem with senior management of HP. At that time, HP put their capacity of 50 million computers’ turnout annually in Shanghai, and 30 million printers and communication devices in Shenzhen, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Huang Qifan recalled that Chongqing really wanted to attract some enterprises, like HP at that time, so, he expounded three ideas to the senior managements of HP, and the first idea was that the turnout of notebook computers in the world would be doubled, and the newly increased turnout should be laid out in Chongqing; the second idea was that Chongqing would promise to attract manufacturers of parts coming here, and if Chongqing couldn’t achieve the goal that 80%’s parts being produced and matched in Chongqing in 3 years, Chongqing would compensate the increasing costs led by this. When computers were produced, then they should be transported out, but what if the freight increased? The problem of transportation of the products that HP sold to Europe and America can partially solved by aviation. The costs from Shanghai to America by airplanes were the same as from Chongqing to America. On the other hand, he thought of that Chongqing has railways that can reach Europe directly. But he never thought that HP would tell him that 10 years before HP wanted to transport their goods from Shanghai to Europe through Eurasia Land Bridge, but during the process of transporting, they found there were many problems, such as, high costs, spending long time, goods being unsafe and so on. In a word, this didn’t work. Later on, Huang Qifan expounded his third idea to HP right away, that was, the matter of transporting the goods to Europe through Eurasia Land Bridge would be coordinated and solved by Chongqing’s government.

Later on, Chongqing found China’s railway and custom house right away and got great support from these departments, inviting the departments of railways and customs of those countries along the route to Chongqing tohave a meeting and discussion. The municipal government of Chongqing also set up a special office for coordinating logistics affiliated to committee of market economy and information to coordinately solve corresponding problems occurring in “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe”. At the same time, HP also started from the other side to promote this initiative. And on August 30, 2010, leading by German railway, meeting about Eurasia railway was convoked in Berlin, Germany. Chongqing also established connection with Schenker, TEL (the joint venture enterprises of German railway and Russian railway) for the fi rst time. Thereafter, Chongqing established connections with the railway companies of Russia, Kazakhstan and so on and the government sectors of the countries along the route, forming multilateral consultation mechanism of “joint conference of fi ve countries and six parties”.

The international consultation involved many countries and many sides, the repeat comparison, and the delayed time were normal, let alone “five countries and six parties”. In the end of 2015, an old leader who were engaging in the huge project from beginning to end, when being asked the process, he said that it’s a long story and even several days don’t enough for him to tell people all things. And just as what Huang Qifan said in the interview: “at that time, we didn’t know for sure how difficult it would be to deal with this problem.”From this, people can know about the anxiety and huge pressure that the leaders and staffs of Chongqing who were engaging in this were confronted with.

Great-power Diplomacy Booming the Opening of the Route

Diplomacy is the extension of a country’s comprehensive national strength, and in return, the stronger international influence of a country can directly promote the cooperation of economy and trade and culture among countries. The successful preceding and opening of multilateral consultation of Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe was credited to the direct promotion of great-power diplomacy of China.

When the every party of consultation was anxious and worried, the earlier-stage consultation of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” was greatly promoted by China’s great-power diplomacy on the international stage. At the invitation of Putin, the prime minister of Russia, and Akilov, the prime minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, Wen Jiabao, the prime minister of China at that time had offi cial visit to Russia and had the 15th regular meeting with prime minister of Russia, then had official visit to Tajikistan and presented at the 9th meeting of SCO member state for prime minister in Duschanbe from November 22 to 25, 2010. On November 23, during the time of Wen Jiabao visiting Russia, the three countries, namely, China, Russia and Kazakhstan signed two agreements for going out and entering customs conveniently. According to the agreements, the customs of these three countries only has one-time check and no repeat security check for the goods that start from Chongqing, pass through Xinjiang’s Alataw Pass, Kazakhstan and Russia, and those goods can directly transport to Holland and Germany.

Early in October of 2010, although the municipal government of Chongqing already cooperated with Ministry of Railways to have a test run in terms of 5 trains of“Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” within China, which confirmed the continuity of the road within China, and a train loading with 2800-ton goods, 40 railway wagons didn’t stop, starting from the Chongqing west railway station directly to Alataw Pass, because of the long-term and complicated multilateral consultation, there was no any advanced result. On January 28, 2011, soon after the signing of these two agreements,“Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” had its second test run, carrying the motorcycle accessories of Chongqing’ Lifan and some electronic products of HP and Acer to Russia. At that time, the agreements for going out and entering customs conveniently had been signed between Chongqing’s custom and Russia’s and Kazakhstan’s customs. Being different from the test within China, the test this time had two routes, and the first route was “Chongqing-Urumchi-Alataw Pass-October city-Ilecik- Moscow”, with the whole length of 8129 kilometers, running almost 11 days according to the prediction; and thesecond route was “Chongqing-Urumchi-Alataw Pass-October city-Astrakhan- Tcherkessk”, with the whole length of 8340 kilometers, running almost 11 days according to the prediction. The most difficult problem for the test was temperature. In order to test the adaptive capacity of these electronic products and instruments in the state of high and cold during transportation, the coldest day had been chosen to have the test on purpose, and test instruments that were researched and developed independently by Chongqing installed on the special trains.

On the basis of two test runs, on March 19, 2011,“Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international railway trains had achieved the fi rst-time run through the whole journey, carrying electronic products of HP that were produced in Chongqing, starting from Tuanjie village of Chongqing, to Alataw Pass, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, the Republic of Belarus, and Poland, spending 16 days, then successfully reaching Duisburg of Germany, achieving the opening of the whole journey of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international railway.

The Same Transporting Price by Railway Transportation and Sea Transportation, Becoming Three “Three in One”

To become a genuine transportation “main artery”,“aorta” and the main channel of Sino-Europe railways that connects Asia with Europe, the two big continents, it’s no doubt that the economic indicators, such as, transportation expenses and performance period are the focus of all circles. According to the calculation of experts, the best impression to the owner of the cargos of every country is the cheaper price of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international railway by comparing with air transportation; comparing with sea transportation, the transportation time of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” is shorter and the freight prices are almost the same. To owning such best impression, the most ideal transport price of cases/km of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” (the transport price of every container in every kilometer) should be among 0.6 - 0.5 dollar, which is almost the same as that of sea transportation, achieving the same price of sea transportation and railway transportation. While at the beginning of running of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe”, the price reached up to 1 dollar.

The most important thing to reduce transport price is to increase goods when returning to achieve bidirectional balance and thus to reduce cost. On March 18, 2013, the fi rst returning train of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” arrived in the key station of Chongqing’s Tuanjie village, which ushered in a new time that the goods of Europe were transported to China through railway and entering China by Alataw Pass, achieving the “zero breakthrough” of returning trip; during 2014, 22 returning trains of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” had been successfully run; and in 2015, among the whole 257trains in the whole year, there were 101 returning trains, with 2 trains a week averagely, and 5 trains a week in peak time, whose running frequency was the highest, and the frequency of bidirectional running was the most stable in all the Sino-Europe trains. According to the most updated information that was published, it’s predicted that the total running number of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” trains will be over 300, and the returning trains will also have some breakthroughs on the basis of 101 of 2015.

At the same time, by establishing “One-Card”, a kind of pattern for transporting that connects the countries along the route, the routes was optimized, and the speed was enhanced, so the running time through the whole journey has been shortened to 13 days from 16 days before, which can save more than 30 days comparing with the pattern of sea transportation on Yangtze River to Shanghai then to Europe.

The structure of the source of goods is adjusting constantly during the process and makes innovation and breakthroughs. According to the data that was published before, among the goods accepting for carriage by“Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” in 2015, the IT products and non-IT products occupied 50% respectively, among which the source of goods in outward voyage included many kinds of products, such as, notebook computers, clothing, articles of everyday use, coffee bean and so on, while the source of goods in returning trip included cars and parts, cosmetics, beer, mother and baby products and so on. Some products, such as, precision instruments, chemical materials, cold chain food and so on start to appear in the commodity lists for transporting by “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe”, and even the special train for Hogood Coffee and products of cross-border E-commerce. The people in the mountain city soon feel close to the advanced “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” quickly.

The transporting price of case/km of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” is the most important thing that is paid great attention to by the owners of cargo of every country, which had been reduced to 0.55 dollar in April of 2015, achieving the basic balance of transporting price and shipping price in the same time. “The high frequency of running, high speed of running, strong ability to radiate, convenient passing customs, good quality of service” has been the advantage brands of“Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe”. According to the incomplete statistics, there are 21 routes for the trains running between China and Europe within China at present, and there are 12 cities for running. Up to the end of October, 2015, these trains had running for 1058 trips, reaching directly to the 12 corresponding cities of Europe. According to the published news of Committee of Economy and Information of Chongqing in January of 2016 from 2011, when the route was started to run to the end of 2015, “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” had running for 490, transporting 41698 cases’ goods, and the number of trains accounted for 45% in all the trains running between China and Europe, with the worth of goods of 10 billion dollars, accounting for 80%. The number of trains, running speed, the value of goods and cargo volume are among the top of the trains running between China and Europe.

What’s more important is that Chongqing has got a series of policy support, such as, the first-class port of national railway, preferential transporting price, transporting international parcels and so on by depending on Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe in the last few years, according to the statistics provided by the Committee of Economy and Informatization of Chongqing, forming an opening platform of three “three integrating one”. At the same time, Chongqing has accelerated to boost the construction of car port. And Chongqing was the first area in the western inland China that has the qualifi cation to construct car port. Starting from August of 2014, Chongqing has imported 372 cars constantly, and five of eight main-current automobile brands of Europe have been brought in, whose importance is self-evident for Chongqing’s construction to be an open highland in inland Chongqing.

Expectation: Connecting Chongqing with Eurasia

Some data show that the quantity of shipments of the area along Yangtze River accounts for 40% or so in the quantity of shipments of Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe at present. The opening of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international trains made Chongqing become the comprehensive transportation junction in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and starting city of international channel for trade. “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” also changed from only serving for the adjustment of Chongqing’s industrial structure to a Sino-Europe great channel for trade that is serving the following areas: southwestern China, Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta. “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” not only belongs to Chongqing any more. With the great change, the economic export-oriented degree of Chongqing has increased to 50%. Chongqing is becoming an opening highland from the heartland of inland China, with no closing to sea or coast, and it keeps abreast with the eastern coastal region.

During the “12thFive-Year Plan” period, Chongqing has grasped the opportunity of economic globalization, to construct “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international trains, and the system integrating big channel, convenient passing through customs with big platform is formed basically, besides, Chongqing has established three transportation junctions of aviation, railway and inland port, three national opening ports, three controlled areas of bonded, the opening condition of three “three integrating into one”; especially, after the puttingforward of the national strategies of “One Belt and One Road”and Yangtze River Economic Zone, Chongqing’s becoming an opening highland of inland China has become a consensus. Up to the end of “12th Five-Year Plan”, the total number of running trains of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” was 490, and the categories of goods and radiating scope were extending continuously, making “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” become the main channel for land-borne trade between China and Europe. As for Chongqing, “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” has changed thoroughly the internal-oriented economic structure, which contributed a lot for Chongqing’s becoming the worldclass industrial cluster and opening highland in inland China. This process was expressed by people that Chongqing’s heartbeats were past to Eurasia.

Guojian, the director of Committee of Economy and Informatization of Chongqing expressed publicly when accepting interview that the success of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international trains is the problems about system at the fi rst, for the establishing of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe”Company by the investing of four countries and fi ve parties, the great breakthrough in system, and the second is the basic cargo quantity. The market decides the result. Chongqing has two big pillar industries, that is, electronics and automobiles, so if there isn’t large cargo quantity and quantity of value, the effi ciency and value of this channel wouldn’t be refl ected; in addition, the location and strong ability to radiate to surrounding area of Chongqing are some important factors.

The journalists noticed that in the The layout of Chongqing’s 13thFive-Year Plan for national economy and social development, passing in the Chongqing’s two sessions in January of 2016, the further opening up of Chongqing and the construction of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” were described as followings:

Actively integrating into the important strategies for opening up and regional development, such as, “One Belt and One Road” and Yangtze River Economic Belt, making full use of two big markets at home and abroad, two kind of materials, continuously expanding the depth and width of opening up, constructing an open system integrating big channel, big passing customs with big platform, forming a unique open platform of three “three integrating into one” in inland China, making “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international channel become the main channel for land-borne trade between China and Europe……

During the “13thFive-Year Plan” period, the function of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international channel will be advanced and promoted, the utilization efficiency will be enhanced, the continuity of running will be increased, making it become the main channel for international trade that connecting inland area with the Silk Road Economic Belt. The operating mechanism of trains will be advanced, the ability of logistics informatizaion will be boosted, the measures to benefi t to convenient passing customs will be optimized, the allocating stations and storage centers at home and abroad will be laid out perfectly, the surrounding areas along Yangtze River Economic Belt, South China and countries and regional cargo organizations along the road will be strengthened, cross-border parcel transportation and trading channel for tourism will be expanded actively, the ability of gathering and distribution of national logistics will be strengthened comprehensively, and the national brand of logistics will be shaped. Making full use of the “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe”international channel to boost the cooperation of international capacity, the development of trade of headquarters and carrying trade, nurture some emerging industries, such as, cross-border E-commerce, try best to grasp the commanding height of opening up in inland……

We wish that “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international trains will not only be the famous brand of Chongqing’s opening up, but also continuously pass the economic heartbeat of Chongqing, even the whole China to Eurasia and all over the world in the future, to exert more function to help economic transformation and upgrading of Chongqing, even the whole China, the successful implementation of two national strategies, that is, “One Belt and One Road”, and Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Guo Jian, director of Committee of Economy and Informatization of Chongqing:

The ability to radiate and gather of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” international trains should be strengthened in 2016, and we should gather the goods surrounding in Chongqing, and go to Europe through “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” and establish allocating stations in the countries along the way, and allocate the goods that were transported there to the surrounding countries, at the same time, we should try our best to appeal more returning goods. He also showed that “everything is possible” in terms of the further development of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe”, if the innovative manner of working is insisted on, conventions aren’t made purposefully, and the market allocates the materials, enterprise as the main body.

Jiang Ping, vice minister of municipal united front work department, and the secretary of leading party group of municipal association of industry and commerce:

Since Chongqing became a municipality directly under the central government, the private economy keeps a rapid development momentum, which has made great contribution to the economic development of the whole municipality. The enterprises in Chongqing have a tradition of “going out”, and more and more Chongqing people and enterprises go abroad and take part in the international competition, with the accelerating promotion of the Chongqing’s construction to be a highland of opening up. Besides, with the continuous increase of quantity and categories of returning cargoes, private economy accounts for a main proportion in the modern service industry, such as, cross-border E-commerce. We will further strengthen integration and connection with the countries along “One Belt and One Road” and “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe”in terms of commercial messages and business environment, giving better service for the private enterprises that want to take part in.

Qi Dan, general manager of“Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe”logistics company:

From January 1, 2016, “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” logistics company would be the only platform for freight management of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” railway, and the operations management of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” will be more effi cient, which will help to expand the radiating scope of “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe”, and the trains will be increased. It’s predicted that there will be over 300 trains in terms of the number of running trains, and almost everyday will have running train. At the same time, Chongqing becomes the distributing center of goods in partial provinces within China. “There will be over 300 running rains, with almost one train every day. Chongqing will be activated genuinely. “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” is not only the forerunner of “One Belt and One Road”, but the leader and navigator.”

Yang Bo, secretary-general of Chongqing International Research Institute:

As is known to all, when talking about the mutual connection between Asia and Europe, President Xi Jinping using “five mutual connections” that construct “Silk Road Economic Belt” to advocate that “heart communication” is the most important aspect among the communication of policies, road connection, trade unblocked, currency circulation and heart communication, because he thought “heart communication” was the basis of the former four aspects. The so-called “heart communication” meant “people’s hearts are connected”, which can avoid the appearance of misunderstandings to the maximum extent, is the guarantee of real connection and communication. I think “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” can make great contribution further in boosting the communication between Asia and Europe, especially the communication between inland China and Central and Eastern Europe.

Dai Jianhong, director of Shapingba Development and Reform Commission, Chongqing

Shapingba district in Chongqing As the new starting point will continue to optimize and upgrade the port functions, relying on Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Central Europe land channel to develop "Near Railway Economy" and to create " Near Railway Economic Belt".

Connecting Chongqing with Eurasia——The Retrospect of Past Five Years of the Opening of Eurasia International Train

□ Written by Zeng Rui