Azerbaijan, China mark historic milestone in transport ties

A delegation from the Xi'an International Trade and Logistics Park of the People's Republic of China and representatives of Azerbaijan Railways company (ADY) have discussed cargo transportation issues during the meeting in Baku.

During the meeting, ADY Chairman Rovshan Rustamov emphasised the expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and China in freight transportation along the Middle Corridor. A notable example of this partnership is the first-ever shipment of export goods from Baku to China by rail, ADY told Caliber.Az.

The sides highlighted that this historic milestone marks the beginning of a new phase in the economic and transport relations between the two countries. The development of cargo transportation in both directions, from East to West and vice versa, significantly boosts the efficiency of the Middle Corridor. Azerbaijan Railways is also keen on deepening its cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative and the broader Eurasian transport network.

Azerbaijan Railways is implementing several key projects with the goal of establishing Azerbaijan as a major international transport and logistics hub, while also boosting cargo traffic along the global corridors that pass through the country. The expansion of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway line, along with an increased capacity of up to 5 million tons per year, will significantly enhance cargo transportation along the East-West corridor. 

Sun Yimin, Director of the Xi'an International Trade and Logistics Park Management Committee, and Yuan Xiaojun, CEO of Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co Ltd, highlighted the significant importance they place on strengthening cooperation with Azerbaijan’s transport and logistics sector, including ADY. They stressed the need to expand collaboration to boost cargo volumes along the Middle Corridor. The first export block train from Baku to Xi'an is made up of 62 40-foot containers. The cargo will be delivered via Kazakhstan to Xi'an Port, one of China’s largest land ports. 

As part of the project, it is planned to ship a total of 15,000 tons of export goods along this route to China by the end of the year, equivalent to 600 containers. Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 280 container block trains have been dispatched from the People's Republic of China to Azerbaijan. By the end of the year, over 300 container block trains are expected to arrive from China along the designated route. By 2025, the number of these block trains is projected to more than triple, reaching a total of 1,000.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) or Middle Corridor is an integral component of the Belt and Road Initiative, established to create a direct transportation link from Asia to Europe. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route starts from Southeast Asia and China, runs through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and further to European countries. It aims to facilitate trade and economic cooperation by connecting major economic regions through a network of railways, highways, and maritime routes.

By Naila Huseynova