Azerbaijan, China seek to boost Middle Corridor potential PHOTO

Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, recently met with a Chinese delegation led by Bin Yang, President of China Railway Container Transport Corp. Ltd. (CRCT).

Press service of Azerbaijan Railways told Caliber.Az that the discussions focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in railways and logistics, with particular emphasis on increasing freight traffic along the Middle Corridor.

It was announced that CRCT will join the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Georgia joint venture, "Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd.," during the international "Silk Road" exhibition on September 19-20.

Since the beginning of 2024, 212 container block trains have been dispatched from China through Azerbaijan via the Middle Corridor. Containers arrive in Baku within 8-10 days and reach Black Sea ports in 10-12 days.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, is a key element of the Belt and Road Initiative. It establishes a direct transportation link from Asia to Europe, starting from Southeast Asia and China, traversing Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and extending to European markets. The route aims to enhance trade and economic cooperation through a comprehensive network of railways, highways, and maritime routes.

Azerbaijan's strategic location as a bridge between Europe and Asia positions it as a crucial player in the TITR's success. The country has actively developed and diversified its energy, transportation, and communication infrastructure, realizing major global projects such as the Zangezur Corridor, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, Southern Gas Corridor, TANAP, and TAP. 

Azerbaijan serves as a pivotal transit hub for goods moving from China and Central Asia to Europe via the Caspian Sea and South Caucasus, with the TITR functioning not only as a trade route but also as a strategic corridor linking Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye, extending into European markets.

by Tamilla Hasanova