On Thursday local time (September 18), the Polish Minister of Interior and Administration, Marcin Kierwiński, reiterated at a press conference that all border crossings between Poland and Belarus, which were closed since September 12 due to the "West-2025" joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus and subsequent drone incursions, will remain indefinitely closed until "the safety of Polish citizens is adequately ensured."

The area near Wlodawa in Lublin Province, Poland, is the tripoint where Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus meet. Source: CCTV News

This decision has caused the main route of the China-Europe Railway Express - the Malaszewicze border crossing in Poland - to be halted. According to the European Freight Rail Association, currently 85%-90% of China-Europe trains enter the EU via Poland, meaning approximately 300 cargo trains loaded with electronic products, automotive parts, photovoltaic components, etc., are stuck in Belarus, causing an increase in supply chain costs by more than 15%.

As a major project of the Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Europe Railway Express is the most important land freight route connecting China and Europe, passing through Russia and Belarus before reaching the Malaszewicze hub in Poland, then distributing to over 220 cities in 26 European countries.

The Malaszewicze railway station near Brest is an important hub for transporting goods from China to Europe. Source: Lianhe Zaobao

Data from the European Freight Rail Association shows that over 85%-90% of China-Europe trains pass through or arrive in Poland, making Malaszewicze almost the de facto eastern gateway into the EU.

The EU Supply Chain Monitoring Center report states that this disruption could freeze part of the land routes for up to 25 billion euros of Sino-European trade, with e-commerce giants such as Temu and Shein facing delays and high re-routing costs.

DHL's shipment delay notice

At a regular press conference on September 11, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, emphasized that the China-Europe Railway Express is a flagship project of Sino-Polish and Sino-EU cooperation, and it serves both sides' common interests. He hopes that Poland will take effective measures to ensure the safe and smooth operation of the train, maintaining the stability of the international industrial and supply chains.

Currently, Poland has not announced when the border crossings will resume, and the accumulated trains may continue to affect trade between Asia and Europe.

This article is an exclusive article by Observers, and unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7551728109091947043/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author. Welcome to express your opinion by clicking on the 【Like/Dislike】 button below.