Hungary, China, Serbia Sign Budapest - Belgrade Railway Deal

  • 15 Jan 2015 8:00 AM
Hungary, China, Serbia Sign Budapest - Belgrade Railway Deal
An agreement signed by officials from Hungary, Serbia and China has paved the way for preparations for the modernisation of the rail line between Budapest and Belgrade. The agreement clears the way for the preparation of the feasibility study, the intergovernment agreement and the financing model for the project.

The document was signed by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic and the deputy head of China’s National Development and Reform Committee Xu Xianping.

The rail line will serve to transport Chinese goods headed for markets in Europe. “One of the most important routes of global trade will pass through Hungary and Serbia,” Szijjártó said. Mihajlovic said the final feasibility studies could be completed by the end of June, allowing work to start by year-end.

The Chinese partner in the 3-billiondollar project is offering to finance 85% of the cost.

The modernisation of the line will cut the travel time between Budapest and Belgrade from eight hours at present to under three hours.

Source www.hungarymatters.hu

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