A transport-themed round table, co-hosted by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport and the Department for Foreign Economic Activity and International Relations of Moscow, was held virtually on the afternoon of December 8th, 2020, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Beijing-Moscow partner relationship. Participants from China and Russia made speeches and exchanged experience concerning the transportation infrastructure in Beijing and Moscow, providing suggestions on the development of transportation system and the win-win cooperation between the two cities.

Wang Chunqiang, second-level inspector of Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport, noted in his speech at the meeting that the urban transportation infrastructure and public transportation system of Moscow are among the best in the world. In particular, the achievements in operation density, reliability and convenience of rail transit have been remarkable, which have provided experience for metropolises around the world including Beijing in developing public transportation system underpinned by rail transit.

Ilya Kuzmin, deputy head of Department for Foreign Economic Activity and International Relations of Moscow, said in his speech that Beijing and Moscow have a lot to learn from each other in the field of transportation. For example, both cities are developing micro-mobility projects. Beijing has shown a strong interest in the car-sharing of Moscow while it is ahead of Moscow in bicycle and motorbike sharing. All these are topics China and Russia wish to discuss in the future.

The transport-themed round table was held online celebrating the 25th anniversary of Beijing-Moscow partner relationship. [Photo by Wang Yong]

In order to address the urban diseases and meet the transportation demands during international large-scale events in both cities, transport and urban planning departments of Beijing and Moscow exchanged views in the strategy of transport development, rail transit, smart transportation, and transportation services for large-scale events. Feng Tao, deputy director of the Research Office of Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport, said that the integration of transportation system of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region and the comprehensive governance of transportation system are the main strategies proposed by Beijing municipal government to tackle urban diseases. With regard to the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, Alexander Polyakov, director of MosTransProekt Research Institute, took the 2018 FIFA World Cup as an example, shared Russia's experience in providing transportation service for large-scale events, including free transportation service for football fans and language training for taxi drivers. Yang Zhigang, deputy director of the Department of Transport Planning of Beijing Municipal Institute of City Planning and Design, focused his speech on the development of urban rail transit and gave an overview of the long-term plan of rail transit in Beijing.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the round table was held online, during which the partnership agreement was signed between Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation Limited and Moscow Metro Corporation. The two sides also discussed about operation security, operation service, maintenance and purchase of equipment and facilities, operation and management, value-added service, energy conservation management and business management as well as challenges of the industry.

As part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the partner relationship between Beijing and Moscow, the meeting has not only enhanced the cooperation in transportation between the two cities, but also strengthened their partner relationship and connection of priorities of urban development.