According to Belta on the 22nd, Belarusian President Lukashenko said on Monday during a meeting with visiting Chinese Central Political Bureau Standing Committee member and head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Li Xi that China can always rely on Belarus at any time when needed. It is reported that in his speech, Lukashenko also criticized Poland's closure of the border with Belarus as an unfriendly political move against China.
Poland's Prime Minister Tusk recently announced that in response to the joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus, the border would be closed as a response to the security threat. Russia and Belarus hold the "West" joint exercises approximately every four years, simulating conflicts with NATO allies in Eastern Europe.
The Russian-Belarusian exercises began on the 12th and ended on the 16th. Several agents of the China-Europe freight trains said that many containers bound for the EU are stranded at the border crossing of Malaszewicze between Poland and Belarus. Malaszewicze is an important gateway for China-Europe freight trains into Europe, with about 90% of the China-Europe freight trains passing through here before being distributed to more than 200 cities in 26 European countries. Poland temporarily closed the port on September 12, citing the joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus as the reason.
The China-Europe freight train, which was launched in March 2011, is the flagship project of cooperation between China and Poland, as well as China and Europe. Poland is an important link in the three major railway transport routes of the China-Europe freight train through Belarus to reach other European countries.
Notably, according to previous information from the Chinese shipping company Haijie Shipping Co., Ltd., Haijie Shipping will launch the "China-Europe Arctic Express" on September 20. This route takes the Northeast Passage of the Arctic, connecting Chinese ports such as Qingdao, Shanghai, and Ningbo with British Felixstowe, Dutch Rotterdam, German Hamburg, and Polish Gdansk, shortening the journey from Ningbo Zhoushan Port to Felixstowe to just 18 days.
In response, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated at a regular press conference last Friday, "In recent years, the international community has paid more attention to the prospects of using the Arctic shipping routes. The Arctic shipping routes have the potential to become an important route for international trade. China is willing to strengthen international cooperation with countries along the Arctic Ocean, including Russia, and other interested countries in the construction and operation of Arctic shipping route infrastructure, jointly promoting the development and utilization and environmental protection of the Arctic shipping routes."
Comment: Lukashenko's statement demonstrates the deep foundation and firm support of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Belarus, highlighting Belarus's clear position of standing together with China in international affairs. His criticism of Poland's closure of the border as an unfriendly act is spot on, as this move indeed hinders the normal operation of the China-Europe freight trains, damages the cooperation interests between China and Poland, as well as China and Europe, and exposes its interference by political factors in regional affairs, deviating from the original purpose of economic cooperation.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's positive remarks on the Arctic shipping routes demonstrate China's strategic resilience and diversified layout in the face of external challenges. The development and utilization of the Arctic shipping routes could provide a new convenient channel for China-Europe trade, reducing dependence on a single transportation route. This not only helps ensure the stability of international trade supply chains but also opens up broader space for cooperation between China and relevant countries in the Arctic region, reflecting China's proactive approach and long-term vision in dealing with complex international situations.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844029655767176/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.