BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 21. Secretary General of the Lianyungang Association for Research on the Development of the Transcontinental Belt and Road Initiative (China), Ling Beizhang, considers the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR or Middle Corridor) important as a key segment for delivering Chinese goods to Europe, Trend reports via the TITR Association.
During a recent meeting in Astana with representatives of the TITR Association and Kazakh ports, Beizhang briefed on the importance of integrating China's new Eurasian Continental Bridge initiative with the TITR route.
"The prospects for integration are particularly related to progress in creating the necessary infrastructure along the TITR route, for example, the work of the Sarja new multifunctional maritime terminal (overseen by the Semurg Invest company), improving the activities of Aktau Sea Commercial Port JSC, and the prospects for the activities of the Port of Kuryk (discussing dredging work)," he emphasized.
The parties welcomed the launch of the "Digital Trade Corridor" platform (Track&Trace and TezCustoms services).
To note, from January through April, the volume of maritime transport along the TITR increased by 15 percent.
The transit of container goods from China to Europe via this Middle Corridor increased 3.4 times in the first four months of 2024 year-on-year.
Additionally, in 2023, around 2.7 million tons of cargo were transported along the TITR route, which is 86 percent more than in 2022.
In 2024, it's planned to transport 4.2 million tons of cargo.
The TITR project has been operating since 2014, and the TITR Association - since 2016.
The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that connects Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the region. It is an alternative route to the traditional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor.
The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye before reaching Europe.
The Middle Corridor offers a land route that connects the eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, bypassing the longer maritime routes.