How Is China's High-speed Rail “rolling Out” To The World?

On 11 July, the four-day 12th World High-Speed Rail Conference concluded in Beijing. Marking the 200th anniversary of the world's railways, the event drew together dignitaries, envoys, corporate executives and experts from member organisations of the International Union of Railways, relevant nations, regions and international bodies. This convergence of global rail transport attention focused squarely upon China.

 

 

♦ By the end of 2024, China's high-speed rail network will reach 48,000 kilometres in operational mileage, accounting for over 70% of the world's total high-speed rail network.

♦ The 'Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal' high-speed rail network will cover 97% of cities with populations exceeding 500,000, with 80% of the main network already completed.

♦ China has established railway cooperation with over 40 countries and regions

 

 

♦ China has led the development of 13 system-level international standards for high-speed rail within the International Union of Railways (UIC)
From the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway to the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, and from the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway to the China-Laos Railway, China has engaged in railway cooperation with over 40 countries and regions, extending its footprint across Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa. At the 12th World High-Speed Rail Conference, Dewiyana Slamet Riyadi, Chairman of the Indonesia-China High-Speed Railway Company, praised the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway; Sonthama Bounsena, Vice-President of the Lao National Assembly, extolled the China-Laos Railway as a golden corridor in his address; François Dhavena, Secretary General of the International Union of Railways, stated that China's practical experience and innovative capabilities are playing an unprecedentedly crucial role in advancing global high-speed rail development...
Data indicates that by the end of 2024, China's railways had cumulatively led or participated in over 300 international standardisation projects under the UIC (International Union of Railways), ISO and IEC. Notably, China spearheaded the formulation of all 13 system-level international standards within the UIC's high-speed rail domain. This signifies China's high-speed rail influence globally is evolving from 'technological leadership' to 'standard-setting leadership'.
Alain Beloud, President of the International Union of Railways, stated at the conference that innovations such as maglev technology and intelligent high-speed rail robustly demonstrate that high-speed rail technology remains a frontier technology driving development. Addressing the variations in high-speed rail technical standards across different nations, the International Union of Railways will continue to advance global high-speed rail cooperation through measures including the formulation and promotion of flexible international railway solutions.