China-europe freight trains are growing against the trend. China-eu bilateral trade remains dynamic

Since the outbreak of coVID-19, China and the EU have supported and helped each other. Our economic and trade exchanges have withstood the impact, shown strong resilience and expanded areas of cooperation. People from all walks of life in China and the eu interviewed by our reporters said that maintaining the vitality of China's economy and trade is a positive signal for both sides and the world economy. The joint development of the "One Belt And One Road" provides new opportunities for the development of China's economy and China's two major economies should play the role of "two engines" of the world economy to drive the recovery and growth of the world economy.

"Trade with China is the key to our business growth."

"Despite the impact of the epidemic and brexit, the volume of port traffic in the first half of the year still exceeded 25 million tons, up by more than 14%. This is mainly due to Europe's trade in goods with China and the Far East." Peppine Devries, head of international trading operations at the Belgian port of Zeebruges.

This has not come easily. Mr. Devries said the outbreak has led to varying degrees of shutdowns in many industries and the cancellation of shipping plans by some ships, which has greatly affected business. "Trade with China has been key to our business growth, with COSCO shipping playing an important role in unimpeded logistics. With the outbreak abating and trade volumes recovering rapidly, we are confident of our performance this year."

Like Zeubruges, many European ports have a growing Chinese presence. Of the 9.3 million teus in Hamburg's port last year, 2.6 million came from trade with China, according to Matthias Schulz, director of The Port of Hamburg's Asian market. In addition, more than 100,000 teus were shipped on china-Europe freight trains last year.

Data from the Greek port of Piraeus showed that the port handled 1.37m teus in the first quarter of this year, up from the same period last year, with business from China and the Far East also key to the port's rapid growth. After strengthening ties with China, the port's business volume reached 5.65 million teU last year, overtaking Spain's Valencia port to become the first port in the Mediterranean and the fourth largest port in Europe.

Zhang Min, a researcher at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the trade between China and The EU has been kept alive during the epidemic. Despite the impact of the epidemic on all walks of life, China and the EU have worked hard to overcome the negative impact of the epidemic, maintained social and economic order, and maintained an open policy, thus stabilizing normal bilateral trade.

"During the epidemic prevention and control period, the value of the China-Europe train service has been further demonstrated"

In April this year, the China-Europe train from Jinan arrived in Hamburg, Germany, bringing much-needed anti-epidemic supplies and wind turbine parts to Germany and other European countries. Under the shadow of the epidemic, the value of the China-Europe freight train to the supply chain of China and other countries and regions along the railway has become more prominent.

Hamburg port not only realizes regular operation with Zhengzhou and many other Chinese cities, but also realizes land and sea transportation with China-Europe freight train. Currently, The port of Hamburg is the largest transport hub in Germany for China-Europe freight trains, which radiates to Germany and other European countries and is an important part of the international transport supply chain. "During the epidemic prevention and control period, the value of the China-Europe train service has been further demonstrated." Schulz said that the freight train service volume between China and Europe has increased significantly and has played a key role in ensuring the transport of anti-epidemic supplies and other goods, making it another safe and efficient mode of transport between Europe and China. As the partner of Sino-European freight train, Hamburg port and its whole logistics system will provide good service for it.

In the face of the challenge of the epidemic, CEIBS trains started new businesses and achieved growth against the trend, setting new records since its operation. In the first half of the year, 5,122 trains ran between China and Europe, up 36 percent from a year earlier, according to China National Railway Corporation. In June, 1169 trains were opened, setting a new record high. Total shipments reached 461,000 teU in the first half, up 41% from a year earlier. The growth of the China-Europe freight train has played an important role in fighting the epidemic in Europe and ensuring the stability of Europe's industrial and supply chains.

Zhang min said that due to the impact of the epidemic, flights and shipping around the world have been suspended, suspended and reduced to varying degrees. The growth of the China-Europe freight train shows that the freight train has unique advantages in stabilizing China-Eu economic and trade cooperation and maintaining the orderly operation of the global industrial and supply chain.

Gzavie Vandepepin, director of Railway transport for China and Europe of France's Faverdi Group, said that thanks to the development of freight trains, communication tools and digital payment applications, business exchanges between European and Chinese companies have become more convenient and cooperation between Europe and China has become increasingly close. "The China-Europe freight train not only provides a new transport channel for suppliers in and along Europe, but also creates a new platform for Cooperation between Europe and China."

"As two of the world's largest economies, Europe and China together account for about one-third of the global economy," said Richard Kozul-Wright, director of unctad's Division for Globalization and Development Strategies. The stability of China-Eu economic and trade cooperation is crucial to the security of the global industrial and supply chains."

"Closer COOPERATION between Europe and China benefits both sides and brings more benefits to the world"

Boehringer Ingelheim, the German pharmaceutical company, launched an innovation co-operation centre in Shanghai in July and announced a €450m investment increase in China over the next five years. In March, Boehringer Ingelheim's Digital Innovation Lab decided to set up its first overseas branch in Shanghai with an initial investment of 3 million euros to accelerate the search for breakthrough treatments for major diseases in collaboration with local Chinese innovators. "China is one of the most important markets in the world for Boehringer Ingelheim and a global center for digital health innovation, and we will continue to invest and grow in China." "Said Qifei Gao, President and chief executive of Boehringer Ingelheim Greater China.

Boehringer Ingelheim's long-term investment in China is a microcosm of European corporate investment in The country. Today, more and more European companies are investing in China and growing in this land full of business opportunities. At the same time, more Chinese companies are starting businesses in Europe. In 2015, CGN Europe Energy formally acquired France's Charmont Wind Farm. At present, the company operates 16 projects in many Countries in Europe, which not only deepens china-eu energy cooperation, but also contributes to Europe's "green transformation" with tangible achievements.

Claudia Vernordi, head of the Central European Digital Institute in Belgium, said China's economy was growing in the second quarter and the EU summit's agreement on a €750bn "recovery fund" was "all very good news, as eu-china co-operation injects confidence into global growth".

Alicia Garcia-Herrero, senior research fellow at the Bruegel Institute, a European Think tank, said, "The epidemic still threatens global public health security and economic stability. Stronger cooperation between Europe and China will help the global economic recovery. To reduce the negative impact of geopolitical risks on the world economy, it is imperative for the EU and China to deepen all-round cooperation."

Kozul-wright believes that the strengthening of China-Eu economic and trade relations will send an important positive signal to the international community, which is of great significance to the current global economy, which is facing a deficit of confidence, increasing uncertainty and weak recovery. "Closer cooperation between Europe and China is beneficial to both sides and more beneficial to the whole world."