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Chinese engineers overcome numerous challenges to ensure smooth construction of Hungary-Serbia railway

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Chinese engineers overcome numerous challenges to ensure smooth construction of Hungary-Serbia railway

2024-05-10 21:41 Last Updated At:05-11 12:25

Facing economic, legal and construction challenges in building the high-speed railway linking Hungary and Serbia, Chinese engineers have made concerted efforts and worked out smart solutions to ensure the smooth construction of the railway.

Hungary was the first European country to sign a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation agreement with China. The 342-km Hungary-Serbia Railway is an important BRI project in Europe. Upon completion, the Serbian section of the railway will total 183 km, with a designed top speed of 200 km/h. The Hungarian section will be 159 km and have a top speed of 160 km/h.

The Serbian section is expected to be operational by the end of this year. The Hungarian section is under construction. Upon completion, travel time between Belgrade and Budapest will be reduced from eight hours to about three.

"There are three tracks at Taksony Station. We are now standing on the mainline and the line on the right side is also a mainline. The far one is called the siding track and is used for avoiding collisions," said Zhou Zili, director of Engineering of the Ninth Bureau Project Branch of China Railway Hungary-Serbia Railway.

It is a challenging project due to a lack of steel supplies, and regulations to protect the local habitat.

"I've always been impressed by the amount of complex issues, and you have to approach a problem from several angles. This is especially true with the construction of railways. You have to take into account the economic, legal, and construction factors. What impresses me most is that the project has progressed and is still doing so despite such complex requirements," said Nagy David Zsolt, environmental protection engineer of the Ninth Bureau Project Branch.

"Hungary has low reserves of flooring materials, including barrier gates, rails and switches and its production capacity is limited. When we started to plan in the early stages, we also considered buying materials from neighboring countries to ensure the supply of these materials. All the steel rails are ready to use. About 90 percent of switches are here, and the barrier gates are at about 75 percent," said Zhou.

The construction team hails the project as a testament to friendship and collaboration between the two countries.

"I believe the opening of the Budapest-Belgrade line is concrete proof of the cooperation between Hungary and China. It could certainly lay the foundations for further work and more projects, benefiting both sides. I think it's a very good opportunity for both countries," said Zsolt.

Chinese engineers overcome numerous challenges to ensure smooth construction of  Hungary-Serbia railway

Chinese engineers overcome numerous challenges to ensure smooth construction of Hungary-Serbia railway

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Mainland says Lai sends "dangerous signal" in speech as Taiwan's new leader

2024-05-21 03:02 Last Updated At:03:17

A Chinese mainland spokesperson said Lai Ching-te has sent "a dangerous signal" of seeking "Taiwan independence" and making provocations to undermine cross-Strait peace and stability in his speech upon assuming the role of Taiwan region's new leader on Monday.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, described Lai's speech as one that stubbornly followed the "Taiwan independence" stance, wantonly advocated separatism, incited cross-Strait confrontation and sought independence by relying on foreign support and by force.

Chen said the mainstream public aspiration on the island is for peace and development, instead of war and recession, while Lai has ignored the public opinion, exposing his nature of being "a worker for Taiwan independence."

The current complex and grave situation across the Strait is rooted in the fact that the Democratic Progressive Party has stubbornly stuck to the separatist stance of "Taiwan independence," rejected the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle, and kept colluding with external forces to make provocations of seeking "Taiwan independence," Chen said.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, said Chen, stressing that "Taiwan independence" and peace across the Strait are incompatible as fire and water.

"We have firm determination to resolve the Taiwan question and realize national reunification; we have strong capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity; and we will take resolute actions to fight separatist activities seeking 'Taiwan independence' and external interference," he said.

"We will never tolerate any 'Taiwan independence' separatist acts in any form," said Chen.

China must and will be reunified, Chen stressed. No matter how the situation on the island changes and who assumes the regional leader, it will not change the fact that both sides of the Strait belong to one China, or impede the historical trend of national reunification, he said.

"We will fully implement the Party's overall policy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era, unswervingly uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, work together with Taiwan compatriots to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and cross-Strait integrated development, and resolutely advance the reunification of the motherland," said Chen.

Mainland says Lai sends "dangerous signal" in speech as Taiwan's new leader

Mainland says Lai sends "dangerous signal" in speech as Taiwan's new leader

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