Link to article: https://english.news.cn/20220118/b39c9f4a4e244f69ae7a2c7210f50f2e/c.html
A new cargo train, loaded with 445 tons of goods headed for Moscow Tuesday morning. It departed from Quanzhou, in China’s Fujian Province. This is the first China-Europe train route from Quanzhou, which is an important starting point on the Maritime Silk Road. The train is scheduled to reach Moscow, Russia, via the border station of Manzhouli in about 20 days, saving 25 days compared with maritime shipping. It is thought that the new route will drastically decrease the shipping costs involved in the trade between the two countries. This is incredibly beneficial to an already prosperous Quanzhou, who’s trade volume with countries and regions along the Maritime Silk Road surpassed 100 billion yuan (16B USD) last year. The new cargo train service will “add new momentum to the city’s exports.”
This is incredibly important to China as it strengthens their “belt and road” initiative, which contains the modern day Maritime Silk Road. A train to Europe from a city that is as important as it is to China increases the likelihood of this initiative succeeding. In addition, the location and route of this train could help strengthen relations between Russia and China, two of the United States biggest rivals, threatening their hegemony. The operation is one of China’s economic priorities to help establish themselves as a major world power as opposed to just one who has influence over the Asian sphere. A stronger connection between Europe and China economically would absolutely be a win for China and helps them towards reaching dual hegemony between them and the United States.
This relates to what we are talking about in class as China is attempting to move their influence towards the heartland, strengthening their relationship with countries in this area. Tying themselves to countries in this area economically would allow them to launch a bid to become a hegemonic power.