Baku, Azerbaijan, July 23
By Anakhanum Khidayatova - Trend:
Azerbaijan is playing an important role in the 'Silk Road' project, Richard Hoagland, the US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, told reporters in Baku July 23.
Hoagland, noting the importance of developing the trade, said the project has great prospects.
The diplomat also noted that he discussed the issue with Azerbaijan's foreign minister.
Hoagland said Azerbaijan is playing an important role in transportation.
He also added that so far the 'Silk Road' project is being discussed, and specific decisions haven't been taken yet.
Earlier, Azerbaijan's National Secretary at the TRACECA Intergovernmental Commission Akif Mustafayev told reporters that Azerbaijan is interested in China's large project to create the 'Silk Road Economic Belt' and attracting a large cargo flow to the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia, known shortly as TRACECA.
Mustafayev said work is underway in this regard, namely the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, to be commissioned later this year, and the construction of the new major international sea trade port in the township of Alat in Azerbaijan.
He also noted that the TRACECA route has a great advantage, adding that it is 2.5 times shorter than the transport corridor running through Russia.