China, Germany reach consensus on Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev line

China and Germany have reached consensus on technology transfer and other key issues regarding the construction of a four-billion-euro maglev line linking Shanghai and Hangzhou cities in east China, a well-informed Chinese official said in Beijing Monday.

Wu Xiangming, director of the China national maglev transportation technology research center, told the fourth China Germany High-Technology Dialog Forum the two sides have agreed on the operation model of the project, the division of general responsibilities, technology transfer and the delivery of electromechanical equipment.

Germany's Siemens company has agreed to transfer technologies to its joint ventures in China for the manufacturing of the power supply and operational control systems, he said.

Another German supplier, Krupp will also transfer technologies for the production of the body of the train, railroad switches, and other parts, he said.

Wu said the general technological scheme for the Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev line and technological specifications of sub-systems have already been worked out.

The proposed Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev line was formally approved by the Chinese government in March this year and is expected to be operational by 2010.

The maglev line will be about 200 kilometers long and is designed to run at a maximum speed of 450 kilometers per hour.

Wu said he hopes that industries in the two countries will continue to forge a long-term partnership after their successful cooperation during the building of the experimental maglev line in Shanghai.

Based on the principle of sharing both risks and benefits, the two countries should base their cooperation on fair conditions and work together to promote the development and application of maglev technologies in the world, he said.

Source: Xinhua