On March 27, the State Post Bureau organized the fifth plenary meeting of the leading group and the joint working group of China- Europe freight train mail (express mail) transportation to summarize the progress of work in 2018 and deploy the work in 2019. Representatives from the Ministry of Transport, the General Administrations of Customs, the National Railway Administration, China Railway Corporation and China Post Group attended the meeting and delivered speeches.

The meeting pointed out that in 2018, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the member units worked together to overcome difficulties and made remarkable achievements. Mail transportation via China-Europe freight trains has stepped into a new stage. Outgoing mail transportation has gradually realized large-scale normal operation. Incoming mail transportation has made a breakthrough from zero. Important progress has been made in multilateral coordination. Railway transportation of mail can be routed to 23 countries. The first railway port international mail processing center in China has been built in the western modern logistics park in Chongqing. The test of Express mail transportation via China-Europe freight trains has been officially launched. New progress has also been made in international standards and collaboration.

The meeting emphasized that the year 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and is a crucial year for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. So it is imperative for the member units to ensure the high-quality development of the Belt and Road construction. In fulfilling the work of mail (express mail) transportation via China-Europe freight trains, member units should thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the guiding principles of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the 2nd and 3rd Plenary Sessions of the 19th Central Committee and the Central Economic Work Conference; firmly grasp the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability; implement the new development philosophy; adhere to the principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits; benchmark the new requirements for high-quality development of the “Belt and Road” standard and check up their fulfillment; and should revolve around the overall goal of improving quality and efficiency to strengthen strategic synergy and establish a long-term cooperation mechanism.

The meeting put forward three requirements. First, the political stance is to be further raised. Member units should grasp the requirements for high-quality development, stay problem-oriented, focus on key issues and make steady progress. The two groups will continue to give full play to the role of the joint work mechanism, make overall planning, give emphasis to information exchange, and strengthen coordination and cooperation. Second, the implementation of key tasks is to be guaranteed. Member units need to break down the tasks in detail, identify the responsible personnel, roadmap and time frame, take the lead and implement various tasks, and sort out related problems and communicate with relevant units, so as to effectively promote the implementation of the key tasks. Third, field research needs to be strengthened. Member units should continue to find out the bottlenecks in various links and better serve the enterprises so as to make new progress and achievements in pushing forward the development of China-Europe freight trains.