Red Sea crisis puts rail link in spotlight

Envoy hails China-Europe train services, highlights role of Belt and Road Initiative

Amid the Red Sea crisis that has severely disrupted a critical seaborne route for global trade, a fleet of "steel camels", referring to the freight trains running on the China-Europe railway, stands out as a land-based alternative, said Fu Cong, China's ambassador to the European Union.

In a signed article titled "Belt and Road Cooperation: A Smart 'De-risking' Option for Europe", published on Tuesday on Euractiv, a European news website focused on European Union policy, Fu said the China-Europe rail link, a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, has proved its unique role amid the crisis and shown that China-Europe cooperation around the BRI is both necessary and forward-looking.

"It is fair to say that the China-Europe Railway Express has become a lifeline for China-EU trade at this critical moment," said Fu.