BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Georgia and China intend to make full use of the capabilities of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) for the development of multimodal transport and increase the intensity of cargo flows between Europe and Asia, which corresponds to the main goals of the China’s "One belt - One Road Initiative way", Trend reports with reference to Georgia’s Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.
The state and prospects of deepening transport links between Georgia and China were discussed between the Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava, and China’s Minister of Transport Li Xiaopeng at the China International Import Expo (CIIE), which opened in Shanghai.
"China attaches great importance to the diversification of freight, passenger and trans-Caspian routes, where historically Georgia has played the role of a bridge between Europe and Asia," Turnava said.
The meeting discussed various working formats to strengthen transport links between Georgia and China. In particular, it was agreed to create a joint permanent working group that will actively work to increase throughput of the Middle Corridor.
[Trans-Caspian East-West-Middle Corridor Initiavie, shortly named as The Middle Corridor, which begins in Turkey and passes through the Caucasus region Georgia, Azerbaijan, crosses the Caspian Sea, traverses Central Asia and reaches China, is one of the most important component of the efforts to revive the ancient Silk Road].
Meanwhile, in 2018 the number of containers transported in the TITR corridor amounted to 1,332 TEU, and for 9 months of 2019, 1,215 TEU were shipped, which is 25.5 percent more than for the same period last year.
An important step forward in the development of TITR was the beginning of regular train connections from the Chinese port of Lianyungang to Istanbul, as well as the departure of a pilot train from the Chinese city of Sian to the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, in October of this year, and Sian logistics companies also plan to make this route regular.
The Head of the Ministry of Economic Development of Georgia informed the Chinese partners about specific measures taken by the government to develop the Trans-Caspian international transport route: this is the launch of a direct container ship to Ukraine, the establishment of regular freight traffic between the Georgian port of Batumi and the Romanian port of Constanta, as well as an increase in the frequency of ferry services between Georgia and Bulgaria.
TITR is a project initiated to increase the transit potential and development of the countries of the Caspian region. This route runs from China to Europe through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. As a result of the joint work of TITR participants, the Nomad Express container service was created and pilot container trains from China to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey have already begun to run.
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