Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26
By Azad Hasanli – Trend:
Ukraine’s Infrastructure Ministry is taking measures to reduce tariffs for freight traffic on the China-Ukraine-European Union route as a part of the Silk Road project, said the Ukrainian ministry in a message.
The corresponding agreement was reached by Ukraine and China after negotiations between governmental delegations and signing of a protocol of the subcommission on trade and economic cooperation.
“The Ministry of Infrastructure noted the importance of Chinese companies’ participation in freight traffic via Chernomorsk port through the territory of countries participating in the Silk Road: Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan,” said the message.
“As a part of the joint initiative on the Silk Road Economic Belt’s creation, Ukraine is taking measures to optimize and reduce tariffs on multimodal transportation on the China-Ukraine-European Union route.”
Ukraine and China agreed to use mechanisms of public-private partnership for infrastructure projects in Ukraine.
The Chinese side proposed to use funds of the Silk Road Fund for such projects’ financing.
Earlier, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Ukraine signed a protocol on competitive, preferential tariffs for freight traffic via the Trans-Caspian international transportation route – Silk Road.
The test container train on the route Ukraine-Georgia-Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-China (through the Caspian and Black Seas) departed Jan.15 from Illichivsk port and arrived in China Jan. 31. This route includes ferry crossings through the Black and Caspian Seas (Illichivsk-Batumi, and further Alat-Aktau ports).