China News Service, Dunhuang, Gansu, November 1 (Reporters Yan Jiao and Li Yalong) The "Road to the Future" Friendship Tour (China Section) Roundtable of Countries Along the China-Europe Railway Train was held in Dunhuang, Gansu on November 1. With the theme of "implementing global civilization initiatives and jointly promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations", the event brought together former political figures from Germany, Austria, the UK and other countries, former envoys to China, and Chinese and foreign scholars to discuss the integration of civilizations along the ancient Silk Road and contemporary cooperation with China-Europe freight trains.
"At the previous stop in Urumqi, we focused on economic and trade connectivity; today we go to Dunhuang and enter the palace of dialogue among civilizations, moving from 'hard connectivity' to a deeper 'heart-to-heart connectivity.'" Hao Zhongwei, secretary-general of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said that the special train set off from Duisburg, Germany, followed the direction of the ancient Silk Road, entered the country through Horgos Port, and crossed the Gobi Oasis. The train carries not only a visit, but also a flowing link of civilized dialogue.
“We talked about artificial intelligence, global governance, ecological environment and many other topics, and everyone truly realized that we must work together to enhance understanding.” Philipp Rösler, former German Deputy Prime Minister, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Service in Dunhuang.
Jovanka Porsche, founder and chairman of the European Think Tank "Neighbourhood", said in Dunhuang that it is crucial to unite people from all over the world and knit people-to-people ties. Talking about Dunhuang, she said that this ancient site has endless charm and makes people deeply feel its weight.
The China-Europe Railway Express is a high-quality flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative. 2026 coincides with the tenth anniversary of the unified branding of the China-Europe Railway Express. This event aims to review the achievements of China-Europe freight trains in stabilizing international industrial supply chains and driving economic prosperity along the routes.
Lu Xinglai, first-level inspector of the Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, said Gansu is willing to work with all parties to create a cross-border cultural tourism product of "China-Europe freight trains + Silk Road heritage" and promote Gansu's cultural tourism projects, intangible cultural and creative products, and specialty commodities to "go overseas" on the freight trains. It also welcomes cultural tourism resources, specialties, and national cultural creations from various countries to "come in" on the freight trains.
In recent years, Gansu has successively opened 26 international freight trains from China to Europe, Central Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, covering more than 30 countries and regions, building an economic and trade bridge for two-way interconnection, mutual benefit and win-win results. In the first three quarters of this year, the number of vehicles shipped by the province’s international freight trains increased by 50% year-on-year.
