Poland announces reopening of border crossings
On 23 September local time, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that border crossings with Belarus would reopen at 00:00 on 25 September. He further stated that the government would reclose the border crossings if necessary.
This decision comes shortly after Poland's move to fully close all border crossings with Belarus, effective from midnight on September 11. That closure was announced by Tusk on September 9, cited as a response to joint Russia-Belarus military exercises commencing in Belarus on September 12.
The border situation has significant implications for the China-Europe Railway Express, a critical land freight corridor. The route traverses Russia and Belarus before reaching the key logistics hub in Malaszewicze, Poland, from where cargo is distributed to more than 220 cities across 26 European countries.
The European Rail Freight Association estimates that nearly 90% of China-Europe freight trains enter the European Union via Poland, making Malaszewicze the bloc's primary eastern gateway. The recent border closure has reportedly left approximately 300 trains carrying goods such as electronics, automotive parts, and photovoltaic modules stranded in Belarus, leading to substantial increases in supply chain costs.
Earlier, on September 11, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian addressed the issue during a regular press conference. In response to a question about the freight train service, Lin described it as a "flagship project of China-Poland and China-Europe cooperation, serving the common interests of both sides." He expressed hope that "the Polish side would take concrete and effective measures to ensure the safe and smooth passage of the trains, thereby safeguarding the stability of international industrial and supply chains."
The operational status of specific trains is under scrutiny. For instance, on September 17, two China-Europe freight trains laden with export goods, including daily necessities, electrical components, and new energy equipment, departed from Yiwu West Station. Reports indicate these shipments had not yet reached their terminal as of the recent announcements.
A notable example of the railway's reach is the Yiwu-Europe Railway, launched on November 18, 2014. It now operates 26 routes, connecting Yiwu in Zhejiang Province to over 160 cities in more than 50 countries, including Spain, Germany, and the UK.
In a related development, Chinese state media CCTV News reported that on September 23, the vessel Istanbul Bridge departed from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, officially initiating the world's first China-Europe Arctic Container Express Service. This new maritime route to Felixstowe, UK, offers an alternative to traditional shipping lanes.