Russia moves on “Chinese track” not in a figurative but in the literal sense of the term.
To demonstrate the Chinese interest in cooperation, the EU was not an unprecedented step. The Russian Ministry itself proposed to provide a railway linking the Chinese city of Hunchun and the Russian port of Zarubino railway gauge 1520 mm is not corresponding to the Russian standards, and the standard adopted in China is 1435 mm.
The IPU stressed that the speech does not go about global alteration of the existing road network. It is only newly built Railways, serving the far Eastern ports.
However, the Chinese Agency Xinhua released the material in which it is stressed that “concession”, which made Russia to the Chinese side, has a symbolic value.
The Agency reminds that a special standard gauge was adopted in Russia in the interests of military security. This measure was intended to obstruct military enemy supply troops in case of invasion of Russia. As noted by the Agency, no matter how close are the economic ties of Russia with Europe, the European standard gauge in Russia was never introduced.
In fact, this is the first time in history, when the territory of Russia there appeared a state’s infrastructure, is proud to announce the Agency.
Deputy Secretary General of China Association of development companies abroad Ho Janeway, noticed that China perceives the road project Hunchun – Zarubino seriously as a strategic access not just to the port, and to the border areas and throughout the Russian market.
The Chinese official also noted that the speech does not go about creation in Russia of a “parallel” network of roads with Chinese standard, but not guaranteed, “in the future China will not begin to lobby for the expansion of its network of Railways within the Russian Federation.”
