The railway line is subject for discussion at a two-day transport meeting in Haparanda, northern Sweden, this week. The meeting includes representatives of the Nordic countries, Russia and China, Swedish Radio reports.
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-The Chinese want to do business, and that is the background for their big interest in the transport corridor, Leif Zetterberg, State Secretary in the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications, told the broadcaster.
-This is not necessarily far from becoming reality, Minister Torstensson adds. She confirms that the Chinese Minister of Railways last summer visited Sweden to outline his country’s interest in the project. –He [the minister] was very clear about the huge possibilities with such a connection, Torstensson says.
During that same trip, the Chinese minister visited also Norway and met with Norwegian Minister of Transport Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa. The Norwegian minister after the meeting with the high-ranking Chinese official admitted to NRK that she was thrilled about the plans.
With the route, China would get a quick alternative connection via Haparanda to the Norwegian port of Narvik, where cargo can be reloaded onto vessels for further transport to Iceland and the USA.
The key condition for the plans is however that Russia endorses the plans and facilitates smooth transport.
