BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 24
By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:
Representatives of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran held a videoconference on the development of transport links and the implementation of promising projects of mutual interest, Trend reports with reference to Uzbek Ministry of Transport.
The Uzbek delegation was headed by Transport Minister Elyor Ganiev. The Afghan side was represented by Transport Minister Yama Shams, while the Iranian side was represented by Roads and Urban Development Minister Mohammad Eslami.
"During the meeting, Ganiev mentioned that trade and economic relations between the countries are becoming more difficult due to the coronavirus pandemic," the message said.
In this context, he stressed the need for further intensification of cooperation between the countries in transport and adoption of joint solutions to existing problems.
"During the talks the sides discussed the construction of the Trans-Afghan Railway and effective use of the Iranian Chabahar port in the International North–South Transport Corridor," the message said.
The sides stressed the need of signing an updated international document regulating the resolution of existing problems and the creation of favorable conditions for the transport and transit of goods between the countries.
In the course of negotiations, the Uzbek side suggested creating of the first autocaravan on Iran-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan route. This proposal was also supported by representatives of Afghanistan and Iran.
"The Iranian side stressed that the creation of multimodal transport corridor on this route will give a significant impetus to the further development of trade and economic relations between the two countries," the message said.
Minister Mohammad Eslami also noted that in 2021 the Iranian side will complete the construction and commissioning of the railway from the Chabahar port to Zahedan city, which, in its turn, will contribute to the increase in cargo flows between the two countries.
"Afghan Minister of Transport Yama Shams expressed readiness to fully support projects aimed at developing transport and transit links between the countries and bringing cooperation in this direction to a new level. He noted that creation of the first multimodal caravan on the Iran-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan route and security issues will be fully provided by the Afghan government", the message said.
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