Yellow Sea-Silk Road Express Forum took place at National Assembly Members’ Office Building on February 4

New Silk Road via train ferry connecting Pyeongtaek Port of Korea and Yantai Port of China

◇ Yellow Sea-Silk Road Express Forum took place at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building on February 4. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yoo Jae-hoon

A forum took place to identify measures facilitating the Yellow Sea-Silk Road Express via a train ferry connecting Pyeongtaek Port and Yantai Port in China.

Hosted by National Assembly members Won Yoo-chul and Yoo Ui-dong, the Yellow Sea-Silk Road Express Forum took place at the National Members’ Office Building on February 4. The forum was sponsored by Gyeonggi Province, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation (MOLIT), the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MOF), and Pyeongtaek City.

The forum sought concrete measures for Yellow Sea-Silk Road Express to connect the Korean Peninsula and China while also combining the Chinese transcontinental railroad with the new Silk Road via a train ferry link between Pyeongtaek Port and Yantai in China.

Forum participants included: National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa; Saenuri Party Floor Leader Yoo Seung-min; National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee Chairman Yoo Ki-joon (Saenuri Party); National Assembly members Kim Young-woo, Lee Han-sung, Lee Myung-soo, Moon Jung-rim, Lee Woon-ryong, Shim Yoon-jo, Son In-choon, Lee Yi-jae and Hong Ji-man (Saenuri Party); Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Jo Tae-yeol ; Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Vice Minister Kim Young-suk; and Pyeongtaek City Mayor Gong Jae-gwang.

In his opening address, National Assembly Member Won Yoo-chul stated: “The social, historical and cultural meaning of the Yellow Sea-Silk Road Express will surpass imagination in the sense that we in a remote country can become part of the Eurasian continent. I sincerely hope that this forum is a small but great first step in the realization of the Yellow Sea-Silk Road Express so as to provide a new vision and open the future for the Korean Peninsula.”

At the forum, under the theme of the ‘Directions and Strategies for the Yellow Sea-Silk Road’, a presentation entitled ‘Overall Eurasian Initiatives and the Significance of a Transcontinental Railroad (TCR) Connection’ was delivered by Lim Soo-suk, Deputy Director General of the European Affairs Bureau of MOFA. Another presentation, entitled ‘Necessity for the Yellow Sea-Silk Road and Measures to Establish Pyeongtaek Port Infrastructure’  was made by Won Jae-moo, an honorary professor of Hanyang University.

In his presentation, Mr. Lim said, “The Eurasian initiative seeks to overcome the disconnection from the Eurasian continent.” He explained, “I want to emphasize the construction of a new Eurasia with peaceful exchanges and co-prosperity via communication and openness.”

In his presentation, Professor Won said, “We should communicate in terms of geopolitical conditions, international relationships and cultural exchanges, and since we only have a draft plan for now, we should specify its elements. When the Silk Road is connected successfully, it is expected to develop as a cultural network for the port of Northeast Asia.”

◇ National Assembly Member Won Yoo-chul delivers an opening address. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yoo Jae-hoon

The forum was hosted by Noh Choon-hee, an honorary professor of University of Seoul, with a panel that included: Jo Moo-hyung, head of the Railroad Policy Division of MOLIT; Park Joon-kwon, director of the Ports and Harbors Bureau of MOF; Song Yoo-myun, director of the Agriculture and Maritime Affairs Division of Gyeonggi Province; Byun Baek-woon, director of the Pyeongtaek Port Business Support Division; and Park Yang-ho, a professor of Hongik University.

Professor Park Yang-ho said, “Pyeongtaek Port is expected to produce effects in co-prosperity between China and Korea under the Korea-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA). When the Eurasian initiative suggested by President Park Geun-hye is realized, Korea and China will be the innovation engines for the co-prosperity of Eurasia.”

Director Song Yoo-myun said, “To propel this project, the plan for the route connecting Pyeongtaek Port with Poseung-eup and the two-step reclamation of port hinterland should be carried out first. Due to budgetary and compensation delays, I hope the plan can be simultaneously carried out by the central government.”

Director Park Joon-kwon commented: “MOF plans two multi-purpose berths for train ferries at Pyeongtaek Port. To construct the railroad network, the reclamation of the site should be done first. It is slated for completion by 2030, and the completion plan can be advanced if necessary. To promote train ferries, profits should be generated for companies. If the container traffic is 100,000 to 150,000 TEU, it can be said to be profitable. Of course, it should be calculated accurately.”

Jo Moo-hyung said, “Korea has no competitive advantages regarding the trains to be utilized in a Eurasian initiative. So the nation needs to enhance its competitiveness through train ferries. We have to conduct a train ferry demand survey and work on a standardization process for trains among countries. Furthermore, the transit of the Korean cargo in China should be guaranteed.”

◇ Participants at the forum pose for a commemorative photo. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yoo Jae-hoon

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Kim Jin-kyoung jinkyoungkim@kg21.net 

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