Xinhua Headlines: With new railway agreements, China helps Argentina strengthen connectivity

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Xinhua| 2020-12-13 16:35:59|Editor: huaxia

by Xinhua writers Cui Yuanlei, Ni Ruijie, Victoria Arguello

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- China and Argentina have decided to take a further step in bilateral cooperation after agreeing on new investment in rail infrastructure, which is key to Argentina's goal of achieving long-term economic growth and development.

The two countries signed on Friday four new agreements on the rehabilitation and reactivation of the main freight railways that connect the northwest, west, and south of Argentina, where agricultural products are plentiful, with the eastern port region, as well as on the incorporation of new electric units to replace the older diesel machines.

GREEN ENERGIES

The agreements, with a total value of 4.695 billion U.S. dollars, were signed by the Argentine government and Chinese companies, including China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), CRRC Corporation Limited and Yutong.

Many of them have projects already underway in Argentina since the two countries agreed to upgrade their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014.

More:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-12/13/c_139586013.htm

[sandensea]

1. Promising news, Judi. Thanks for posting this.

Fernández himself (as Kirchner's Chief of Staff) led negotiations resulting in a similar deal with China in 2007, a deal which helped Argentina renovate its then-dilapidated rail stock.

While Argentina still has Latin America's most extensive railroad mileage, its ridership has declined steadily in the last 30 years as auto ownership increased and many passenger rail lines were closed during privatization in the early '90s (largely converted to freight-only lines).

Rail freight has also gradually declined, as more businesses have switched to trucking. This is where much of the new investment is likely to go - though passenger services will benefit too.

Here's footage from a trip from Buenos Aires to seaside Mar del Plata (240 mi to the south). And it's translated! (click the cog)

Enjoy: