Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway turns into essential transit link between Chinese and Persian Gulf markets
Northern China and Iran establish new transport rail connection via Central Asia.
On 5 September, freight train, consisting of 50 containers has left the city of Yinchuan, administrative center of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and bound for the Iranian capital, Tehran, Xinhua News Agency reports.
The train will enter Central Asian space via the border crossing of Khorgos and further along the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway line will arrive at the destination point.
Hebei, Shandong and Jiangsu provinces loaded containers with machinery, consumer products, ceramics, crystal products and other goods weighing more than 560 tons worth about US $ 1.5 billion.
Over 8 thousand kilometers long route is more logistically cost-efficient as the delivery time is reduced to 15 days compared to 35-day marine traffic.
According to the authorities of the northwestern and northern provinces of China, the launch of a new train creates additional options for increasing mutual trade with the countries of Central Asia.
The first test run of the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran rail corridor from the Chinese eastern city of Yiwu took place at the beginning of last year.
With the joining of northern and north-western China to the mentioned transport and transit corridor, the role of the transnational railway Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran as a key link in the economic and trade relations between China and the Persian Gulf countries is growing significantly.
