The launch of a new international container route running from China through Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Turkey to Europe was agreed upon during a meeting in Beijing between representatives of the railway authorities of six countries — China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Turkey, Orient.tm reports.
Initiated by the Chinese transport company CRCT, the negotiations marked another step toward strengthening transregional transport cooperation between Asia and Europe. Participants discussed the practical aspects of launching a pilot container train, including tariff incentives and logistics efficiency.
As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to coordinate efforts to establish competitive transport conditions, increase cargo flows, and develop multimodal logistics along the route.
The new corridor builds on agreements reached at a six-party meeting held in Tehran in May of this year, where two land routes linking China to Europe were approved: one via Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Turkey; the other including Uzbekistan in the chain.
Special emphasis is placed on the role of Turkmenistan as a key transit hub in the emerging alternative land corridor. The country’s strategic geographic position and its steadily expanding railway and logistics infrastructure provide a solid foundation for integration into international supply chains and for enhancing its transit potential.
The implementation of the new routes is expected to accelerate cargo delivery times, reduce logistics costs, and strengthen the resilience of transportation links between East and West.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 1, 2025