China is making strides in developing rail connectivity westward. It is involved, or planning to get involved, in many infrastructure projects around Eurasia. A notable example is the joint Russian – Kazakh – Chinese development of a new terminal at Selyatino, near Moscow. But China’s involvement in Russian rail may not stop there.
China has expressed interest in further rail investments around Russia, according to Russian media. Boris Titov, press representative of the efficiently named “special representative of the Russian president for relations with international organisations to achieve sustainable development goals”, explained that they received such signs from China.
“We had a very fruitful meeting with the new director of the so-called Xi’an dry port, Yang Bin. The international port of Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, is the largest departure point for land freight transportation from China to the west and back. And, of course, for rail trade with Russia”, Titov is quoted as saying.
Beyond Moscow
Reportedly, the Xi’an dry port is ready to provide land for the construction of logistics hubs and warehouses, such as the Selyatino hub. “However, the Chinese side is ready not to limit itself to the Moscow region. Our partners are ready to invest in the reconstruction of railway terminals in other regions of the country if local authorities show interest in this,” Titov explained.