A memorandum of cooperation for the development of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan intermodal train route was signed during a meeting between the delegations of railway administrations from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and China International Logistics in Lanzhou.
The discussions primarily focused on cargo transportation along the new multimodal route and the development of logistical infrastructure, Kyrgyz media reported on Tuesday.
The Kyrgyz Railway Company, Kyrgyz Temir Jolu, stated that the meeting participants deliberated on organizing freight transportation along the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan multimodal corridor and creating favorable conditions to attract additional cargo volumes.
The agreement also entails further cooperation and improvements in the conditions of transportation along the specified multimodal route. Afghanistan is currently connected to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran through railways, and the transfer of commercial goods between Afghanistan and Iran via the Khaf Herat railway has recently commenced.
Bahram Ramesh, an economic expert, believes that the development of railway lines will not only enhance transportation facilities within the country but also have positive effects on regional economic growth. Economists anticipate that railways will reduce the cost of transporting goods, leading to affordable prices and shorter delivery times for commercial and transit goods.
Seyyed Masoud, a university professor, expressed the country’s commitment to fulfilling obligations outlined by the Asian Development Bank, as they gradually progress towards the completion of railway projects.
Prior to this development, a railway train service was inaugurated between China’s Gansu province and Afghanistan, with 39 containers of goods transported from Gansu to Haraytan.
