BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Initiated by the International Union of Railways (UIC) in 1992, the UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail has been held every two to three years since. The 12th congress is held in China's capital city Beijing from July 8 to 11, 2025, and is set to be a powerful testament to China's progress in and contributions to the global high-speed rail industry.

China aims to expand the length of its operating high-speed rail tracks to around 60,000 km by 2030, up from 48,000 km at the end of 2024. When the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, the total railway length was only 21,800 km. As the country continues to improve its railway infrastructure, the operating mileage of its railway network is expected to reach 180,000 km by 2030, up from 162,000 km at the end of 2024.

The expansion of the national high-speed rail network has played a crucial role in the country's economic and social development, reducing travel times and boosting industrial development along railway routes.

Notable achievements include the Fuxing series high-speed trains, advanced train-control systems, and innovative surveying technologies, which are expected to reinforce China's position as a global leader in railway technology.

Prototypes of the CR450 bullet train, with a test speed of up to 450 kilometers per hour and an operational speed of 400 kilometers per hour, were unveiled in Beijing at the end of 2024, showcasing China's cutting-edge advancements in rail technology and its contributions to the global rail industry.

The CR450 is significantly faster than the CR400 Fuxing high-speed trains currently in service, which operate at speeds of 350 km/h.

China's high-speed trains, a successful example of independent innovation, are now regarded as a Chinese "calling card" and are welcomed globally.

Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) has transported over 10 million passengers as of June this year since it began operations on Oct. 17, 2023.

Indonesian drivers have successfully operated the trains serving the HSR at a speed of 350 km/h. This is the first overseas high-speed railway project fully utilizing Chinese railway systems, technology and industrial components.

Photo by

Gong Lei, Liu Xu, Jiang Hongjing, Tenzin Nyida, Tang Yi, Wu Zhizun, Wu Yunan, Xing Guangli, Xiao Yijiu, Xu Qin

Visual design by

Xin Mengchen

China Story Studio