China’s ministries of transport and railways gathered some of the country’s major port groups, shipping lines, rail container companies and research institutes in Beijing on 24 June to discuss how to proceed with a plan to build six or seven rail-water intermodal show routes across China. These routes will take one to two years to establish, with the aim of providing valuable lessons and experience for central planners before the routes are rolled out on a wider scale.

Some delegates suggested that different cargo such as domestic trade, foreign trade, bulk and break bulk and transit containers should have their own models.

The two ministries signed an agreement in May to jointly promote the development of intermodal transport in China.