A decades-old weekly train service, connecting Beijing and Moscow, has helped nurture friendships and build cultural bridges between the two countries.
Launched in 1959, the K3/4 line has carried countless Chinese and Russian passengers back and forth between the two countries.
Sun Guoxiang, who worked as a conductor on the train for 36 years before retirement, recalled changes in the train and its passengers over the years.
"I worked on this train for 36 years. Through over 60 years of operation, this international train has undergone many changes. For example, between the 1960s and 1990s, this train was mainly used for official business, used by civil servants to go abroad for inspections and visits. In the 1990s, when the former Soviet Union was facing great shortages of daily necessities, this train was used by many people doing business for a few years. After arriving at the stations, goods were sold in the carriages and the Soviets came on the train to buy goods. Later, with China’s reform and opening-up over the past 40 years, the Chinese people had money in their pockets and wanted to travel for tourism. So this international train provided them with such a service," Sun said.
Younger generations who have traveled on the train regard it as a bridge to experience different sceneries and cultures along the way.
"Each station along the line bears a sense of culture, whether in terms of architectural style or the overall layout. Moreover, Russian stations are open. You can enter and exit the station freely without any ticket inspection. I think this train itself is a cultural journey. You can feel the Russian culture in the most authentic way in every aspect," said Zhou Xiangfeng, a Russian translator who has traveled on the train.
"I think real cultural communication still relies more on genuine interaction and the existence of a proper channel. K3, for example, is like a river—what we need is to let culture flow through this river. It serves as an excellent bridge," said Yang Jiankun, another passenger who has traveled to Russia on the train.
Decades-old train service helps cement bonds between China, Russia
China attaches great importance to the development of China-Singapore relations, and is willing to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, promote practical cooperation in various fields, and enhance people-to-people exchanges with Singapore, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when holding talks with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Beijing.
Noting that over the past year, under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries and joint efforts of both sides, the all-round high-quality and future-oriented partnership between China and Singapore has maintained a good momentum, Wang urged the two countries to continue to enhance strategic communication, increase mutual trust, jointly address the ever-emerging global challenges at present, and safeguard the overall situation of regional peace and stability.
Wang said that maintaining the security of global industrial and supply chains and the smooth flow of maritime navigation is in the common interests of the international community, and China is willing to continue to make efforts to this end.
Noting that Singapore is an important ASEAN member and will assume ASEAN's rotating presidency next year, Wang said China expects the Singaporean side to continue playing an active role in promoting China-ASEAN cooperation.
Balakrishnan said Singapore highly values its relations with China, adheres to the one-China policy, and firmly opposes "Taiwan independence."
Singapore is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, promote practical cooperation in various fields, carry out key cooperation projects of both sides, and promote regional connectivity, he said.
Singapore is ready to promote greater progress in ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership, support the Global Development Initiative, and uphold multilateralism and free trade, and is willing to work with China to make joint efforts in promoting world peace, development and prosperity, he added.
China ready to promote practical cooperation with Singapore: Chinese FM
