Russia and China agreed to maintain in 2010 the last year’s transit freight tariffs

Russia and China have agreed to maintain in 2010 the railway transit tariffs for cargo transportation in containers from the North-Eastern provinces of China via Russian railways and backwards at the level of 2009. According to press service of Ministry of Transport of Russia, such agreements were reached on January 14-15, 2010 in Beijing at the third meeting of the Russo-Chinese working group for transit. Russian delegation working group was headed by the Deputy Minister of Transport of Russia Andrei Nedosekov, the Chinese working group – Vice-Minister of Railways of the People's Republic of China Hu Yadun.

During the meeting the sides discussed the implementation of decisions of the second working group meeting held in St. Petersburg in 2008. The need to continue cooperation to overcome the problems that come during the passage of transit cargoes through the railway border crossing points. The meeting came to a consensus on the need to take active measures to promote the development of container transit traffics through the territories of Russia and China.

"In order to attract additional volumes in 2010 the decision has been made to preserve railway tariffs for cargo transportation in containers from the North-Eastern provinces of China in transit through Russia's railways and in the opposite direction at the level of 2009", the RF Ministry of Transport statement reads.

The parties noted that the organization of regular transport container block trains in Russia and China is an effective way to increase the competitiveness of rail transport through the optimization of tariffs, to accelerate delivery of goods, simplifying the control procedures at the border and provide high quality information services.

During the talks the Chinese side confirmed its intention to participate in the creation in Russia of high-speed passenger rail service.

(Source: Port News)