"For all countries participating in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative means the expansion of more logistics infrastructure and greater economic development. For Europe, the Belt and Road Initiative means the growth of trade volume with China, the modernization of existing transportation lines in the EU and the opening of new transportation channels." Olaf Kruger, chairman of the German International Railway Freight Business Association, pointed out in an exclusive interview with our reporter a few days ago, based on his many years of experience in railway logistics, the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative has great significance from multiple perspectives.

Kruger is also a representative of international relations for VTG, an important European railway logistics company. He also established the Future Railway Freight Consulting Company in Berlin. As a member of the Industry Advisory Committee, he and other industry experts advise on railway freight initiatives at the German and EU levels. He told our reporter that since the launch of China-Europe Railway Freight Service, freight volume has continued to grow. Last year, China's container freight volume sent to Europe through Kazakhstan reached 1,210, which has doubled compared with 503 in 2015. Kruger believes that this number will continue to grow. "The connection of railway lines such as 'Yuxin European' and 'Yixin European' has provided new transportation solutions for cargo owners between China and Europe, injecting new blood into the existing European railway freight channels and networks, effectively reducing transportation costs."

Kruger told our reporter that in order to actively support the "Belt and Road" initiative, the German International Railway Freight Business Association has divided some functions to promote the development of efficient railway transportation systems and mechanisms in the EU region. The association also provides support for the construction of new transport stations of China-Europe freight trains to promote the docking of China-Europe freight trains in Germany and increase the heavy box rate of the freight trains when returning from Europe.

Kruger hopes to expand the direct railway connection between China and Europe under the framework of the "Belt and Road" and open up more new high-standard and high-capacity freight channels, so that heavy trucks no longer need to be transferred multiple times when transporting, which can save a lot of transportation time and financial resources.

"China's economic development achievements in recent years cannot be ignored. There is no doubt that China is one of the important drivers of world economic development and will continue to maintain this position." Kruger believes from this perspective that China needs to develop a logistics system that matches its huge import and export trade demand and high production capacity, and the logistics infrastructure of the "Belt and Road" will surely bring further improvements to China's international trade volume.

Kruger said that the living standards of Chinese people are constantly improving, the distribution of social wealth is becoming increasingly balanced, the purchasing power of people continues to rise, and the demand for European goods in the Chinese market is also increasing. More and more European goods are being transported to China through China-Europe freight trains, and the contribution of the "Belt and Road" to economic globalization is self-evident. "The construction of the Belt and Road Initiative will further promote the process of economic globalization, so that the fruits of global economic development will benefit countries and regions along the route, and bring welfare to the people of all countries."

(This newspaper, Berlin, April 21)

"People's Daily" (Edit 03, April 22, 2017)