Last week, the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, hosted the second meeting of transport ministers in the "Central Asia – China" format. The participants discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the field of transport and logistics, Avesta.tj reports.
Delegations from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan took part in the event. Tajikistan was represented by Minister of Transport Azim Ibrohim.
The sides exchanged views on the current state of the transport sector in the region and globally, and explored ways to enhance economic, trade, and humanitarian cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries.
According to Azim Ibrohim, the sustainable development of the transport sector requires coordinated action. He outlined key areas of cooperation, including:
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Development of multimodal transport corridors that effectively combine road and rail networks, such as:
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China – Kyrgyzstan – Tajikistan – Afghanistan – Iran;
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China – Tajikistan – Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran – Turkey – Europe;
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The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), which opens up new opportunities for export and import via the Caspian Sea;
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Digitalization of transport corridors;
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Expansion of international freight services;
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Transition to sustainable modes of transport in line with the global climate agenda;
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Joint training programs for transport sector professionals.
The Tajik minister also emphasized the need to develop a Multilateral Transport Cooperation Program that would cover infrastructure projects, harmonization of standards, implementation of digital solutions, and the development of logistics hubs.
During the meeting, two memorandums of understanding were signed:
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On humanitarian exchange in the field of sustainable transport;
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On digitalizing the permit system for international road transport.
The ministers called for simplifying cross-border transport procedures and transitioning to an electronic system for exchanging transport permits.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
May 20, 2025