Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 23 /Trend E. Kosolapova/
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Turkey plan to involve China into joint transport project Silk Wind, the Kazakh Transport and Communication Ministry told Trend by e-mail.
"China plays a key role in the successful implementation of the project, taking into account the dynamic growth of its western regions for the last years (Go West program), which testifies China's need to deliver a large amount of different goods to the world market," the Ministry said.
The project Silk Wind was initiated within TRACECA.
According to the Kazakh Transport and Communications Ministry, the project objective is to create a multimodal transport route trains (container / ro-ro) with the preliminary exchange of information between customs authorities and rail operators of participating countries.
The Silk Wind will ensure the shortest connection between the major freight traffic countries such as China, Turkey, simplify customs and border procedures, reduce transit time and travel time and environmental impact, the Ministry said.
Currently the project participants are working to make the route competitive and attractive, the Ministry said.
"Following signing the memorandum on the agreed issues, we will start a dialogue with the Chinese manufacturers, focused on Central Asian and European markets, business community, forwarders of international and national companies, and in the future try to attract China to join the project," the Kazakh Ministry said.
The project members plan to sign "Memorandum on the principles of joint activities for transport network development and goods transportation" by late 2013, the Ministry said.