Open Day within the framework of the VIII China-Russia EXPO
The VIII China-Russia EXPO is being held from May 16 to 21 in Harbin. On Saturday, the first day of the regular work of the EXPO, there was an influx of Chinese and foreign visitors.
The China-Russia EXPO has already become an important platform for promoting bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
China-Europe freight train services posted strong growth in first 4 months
In the first four months of this year, the number of freight train departures on China-Europe international rail freight routes rose 10 percent year on year to 6,184. This was according to data released on Monday by China Railways Corporation
During the reporting period, freight trains carried a total of about 675,000 standard containers /TEU, twenty-foot equivalent unit/ of cargo, up 11 percent year-on-year, the CPRC said.
According to the corporation, as of the end of April this year, the number of China-Europe freight train departures totaled 89,000, while the network services of these routes covered 223 cities in 25 European countries.
Maersk said the risk zone in the Red Sea is expanding
The consequences of the situation in the Red Sea continue to cause disruptions in the maritime transportation industry. The risk zone has expanded, Danish logistics company Maersk writes on its website.
“The consequences of the situation in the Red Sea are expanding and continue to cause disruptions in the industry,” the report notes. - The situation in the Red Sea has escalated over the past few months. To keep our crew, vessels and your cargo safe, we are modifying the route around the Cape of Good Hope for the foreseeable future. However, the risk zone has expanded and the attacks are spreading further out to sea.”
The escalating situation has led to longer routes, resulting in additional time and cost to get cargo to its destination. The company points to delays, equipment and capacity shortages.
The U.S. has calculated how much it will cost to build a bridge in Baltimore
The construction of a new bridge in the city of Baltimore in the U.S. state of Maryland to replace the collapsed in late March will cost from 1.7 billion to 1.9 billion dollars, writes the Washington Post with reference to estimates of the state authorities.
Earlier, the Associated Press agency, citing estimates by a number of experts, reported that the construction of a new bridge in place of the collapsed in the U.S. Baltimore could take up to seven years, while the cost of the project could reach up to a billion dollars.
IMO to establish new office in Fiji to support Pacific Island countries
At the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London on 18 March, Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of IMO, and Ro Filipe Tuisawau, minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services, and Transport of the Republic of Fiji, officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the opening of a new IMO office in Fiji.
The Regional Presence Office is established to address the maritime needs and priorities of Pacific Island countries. It will ensure alignment of IMO actions with national and regional development policies, offering guidance on crucial maritime matters such as training, safety, security, legislation, and marine environment protection, according to the statement.
Additionally, the Office will play an important role in facilitating active field-level involvement in implementing the IMO's technical cooperation framework.
On behalf of the Fijian Government, Ro Filipe Tuisawau commented, “The IMO Pacific Regional Presence Office provides an opportunity to address critical issues, including the challenge of providing an efficient inter-island shipping service, to ensure the safety of our Pacific people in inter-island shipping.
He further added, “As host of this regional office, Pacific Member States will be assisted in addressing global standards for ships, and compliance issues related to energy efficiency, safety equipment and maintenance of safety systems according to IMO standards.”
Furthermore, governments in the Pacific Islands have emphasized the necessity for increased opportunities within the maritime sector, particularly for the youth. This includes advocating for seafarer certification and broader employment prospects.
“I welcome this opportunity to enhance the global presence of the IMO as well as our ability to work in step with the Pacific region and Member States. In addition to Fiji as host country, I would like to thank the Governments of Australia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands for their generous financial and in-kind support which has helped make this collaboration a reality,” stated IMO Secretary-General Dominguez.
The upcoming office in Suva, the capital and largest city of Fiji, will serve as the seventh Regional Presence Office for the IMO and will operate under the leadership of a Regional Coordinator. It will complement the existing offices located in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (Francophone) for West and Central Africa; Accra, Ghana (Anglophone) for West and Central Africa; Nairobi, Kenya for Eastern and Southern Africa; Manila, the Philippines for East Asia; Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago for the Caribbean; and Alexandria, Egypt for the Middle East and North Africa.
In the Pacific Islands region, there are a total of 14 IMO Member States, which include Australia and New Zealand. The other twelve are small island developing States (SIDS), with three classified as least developed countries (LDCs).