Global Vice Premier announces increased contributions of knowledge and technology to the worldwide advancement of high-speed rail systems.
China Reaffirms Leadership in High-Speed Rail at Global Congress
On July 8, 2025, the 12th World Congress on High-Speed Rail took place in Beijing, China, with Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony. The event, hosted by the capital city, attracted over 2,000 attendees from 60+ countries, providing a platform for demonstrating China’s rail achievements and fostering international partnerships.
Zhang Guoqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized China's commitment to a leading role in the future of high-speed rail globally. In his speech, he highlighted China’s willingness to contribute wisdom, technology, and solutions to high-speed rail development worldwide and expressed readiness to share expertise and collaborate internationally to advance cutting-edge rail technologies.
Key points discussed by Zhang Guoqing included China’s central role in global high-speed rail development, sharing experience in construction and operation of high-speed rail systems to promote global adoption of advanced technologies, and reinforcing the spirit of international cooperation and innovation, fostering partnerships exemplified by collaborations such as China-Japan joint ventures within the Belt and Road Initiative.
The congress showcased China's technological prowess, with the unveiling of the prototype CR450 train capable of 420 km/h, signaling technological advances in the high-speed rail sector. China's high-speed rail network has expanded to 48,000 kilometers, connecting nearly all cities with populations over 500,000 and transporting 16 million passengers daily, with plans to extend the network to 70,000 km and increase train speeds to 400 km/h by 2035.
The event was covered by the Xinhua news agency, with Ding Lin as the photographer, as per the Xinhua photo credit.
In summary, Zhang Guoqing’s discourse at the congress underscored China's ongoing leadership, technological innovation, international collaboration, and commitment to making high-speed rail an instrument of global connectivity. The 12th World Congress on High-Speed Rail served as a testament to China's dedication to shaping the future of high-speed rail and fostering global partnerships in this critical sector.
- The technological advancements in high-speed rail, as demonstrated by China's CR450 prototype train and extensive network, have significant implications for global economic growth, particularly in the transportation industry.
- China's willingness to share expertise and collaborate internationally in high-speed rail technologies could potentially revolutionize the finance sector, as more countries invest in and benefit from this cutting-edge industry.
