Serbian officials, experts praise Budapest-Belgrade railway for boosting regional connectivity, economic growth

Serbian political figures and experts have praised the Budapest-Belgrade railway, a key infrastructure undertaking jointly built by China, Hungary and Serbia to link the two capitals, as a significant catalyst for regional connectivity and economic growth, serving as a prominent example of international cooperation within the framework of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The railway spans 341.7 kilometers, with 183.1 kilometers located in Serbia. The Belgrade-Novi Sad section commenced operations in March 2022. Its cross-border freight service began in late February, with passenger transport services soon to follow. Once fully operational, travel time between Budapest and Belgrade will be reduced from eight hours to approximately three and a half hours.

In separate interviews with China Central Television, the prominent figures said the railway will not only significantly shorten travel time between the two countries and improve regional logistics efficiency, but also further promote trade exchanges and create new jobs. Furthermore, as a key part of the China-Europe Land-Sea Express Route, the railway connects northward with the China-Europe Railway Express and links southward to Greece's Port of Piraeus, thereby integrating Mediterranean ports with Central Europe and bolstering regional economic development.

"Serbia will become a key point of connection between the Mediterranean countries from the Port of Piraeus to Central Europe and further to Asia. So, the economic significance is undisputed," said Aleksandra Sofronijević, Serbia's Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure.

"This is one of the major projects, not just for the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Hungary, but also for the region itself, since the development level of logistics infrastructure is a precursor of the economic development as a whole," said Veljko Mijušković, professor with the Faculty of Economics and Business at with University of Belgrade.

The Budapest-Belgrade railway is among the flagship projects covered by the BRI, marking the first time that Chinese railway technology and equipment have been aligned with the European Union's Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI). Serbian officials said that cooperation with China under the BRI has spurred local infrastructure improvements and opened new avenues for economic development.

"The construction of the Belgrade-Budapest railway is of exceptional importance to the Serbian citizens, because Europe actually becomes more accessible to them. I believe that this is a modern program with contemporary technological solutions. China has provided its solutions and implemented its innovative solutions in the construction of this transportation route," said Marija Gnjatović, State Secretary at Serbia's Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation.

"The first bridge, the first road, the first high-speed road that China has built in Europe actually has [been] built here in Serbia. So we are part of the Belt and Road Initiative. We are part the community of shared future with China," said Marina Ragus, deputy speaker of Serbia's National Assembly.

Serbian officials, experts praise Budapest-Belgrade railway for boosting regional connectivity, economic growth

Twenty-six people have been rescued after a nine-story building under construction collapsed early Sunday in Angeles City in the northern Philippines, according to local government authorities.

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Angeles said 24 people were pulled from the collapsed structure, while two others were rescued from a nearby aparthotel struck by the incident. Rescue teams are still searching for any individuals who may remain trapped.

Emergency crews cut through layers of shattered concrete and twisted metal, pausing repeatedly to listen for signs of survivors beneath the wreckage.

"Our personnel from the search and rescue team who were conducting the initial assessment were the ones who heard the victims moaning in pain," said Maria Sajili, spokesperson of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Earlier reports said at least 30 people had been trapped under the building.

The Angeles City Information Office said the accident occurred around 03:00 local time, turning much of the site into a mountain of rubble.

Heavy rains and strong winds preceded the collapse, with 44 millimeters of rainfall recorded between 19:00 and 20:00 on Saturday, according to local atmospheric services.

Several workers managed to escape during the initial collapse, while others nearby suffered minor injuries. Emergency personnel from multiple agencies have since been deployed, but the officials said the effort remained extremely challenging.

Rescue crews are navigating unstable concrete slabs, tight voids within the wreckage, and the constant risk of further collapse.

"Challenges, of course, (include) the heat of the sun, and plus it's a massive construction -- concrete, steel and scaffoldings are very heavy and challenging for our responders," said Jay Pelayo, information officer of Angeles City.

Heavy machinery has been deployed to clear parts of the collapse site, but much of the rescue work is still being carried out by hand, with crews moving cautiously through the unstable wreckage in search of survivors.

Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the collapse. Authorities are now examining whether structural weaknesses, construction issues, or other factors may have played a role in the collapse.

26 rescued from building collapse site in N. Philippines