Source: GT    Published: 2024-06-17

China and Turkmenistan will further expand cooperation in the railway sector following a memorandum of understanding signed on June 12, the China State Railway Group Co said in a press release on Monday.

The memorandum was signed via video link by Liu Zhenfang, chairman of the board of the China State Railway Group Co and Azat Atamyradov, chairman of the Türkmendemirýollary Agency of the Ministry of Industry and Communication.

Liu said that China and Turkmenistan have deepened pragmatic cooperation in various fields, including jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and promoting the high-quality development of the China-Europe freight train.

The deal has significant meaning in promoting bilateral economic and trade exchanges, developing international railway channels passing through China and Turkmenistan, and enhancing railway connections between Asia and Europe, Liu said.

The signing of the memorandum will further smooth rail transportation channels between China and Europe, and promote mutually beneficial and win-win development, Atamyradov said.

Atamyradov noted that Turkmenistan has actively supported the development of international railway cargo transportation from China to Europe that passes through Turkmenistan, especially container transportation, adding that the Turkmen side hopes to continue to deepen cooperation with the China State Railway Group and further promote the implementation of Turkmenistan's strategy of reviving the Silk Road.

Turkmenistan's location as a transportation hub connecting multiple countries including Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran with Turkmenistan plays a vital role in driving trade with Central Asian countries as well as Middle East and South Asian countries, Zhou Rong, a senior researcher at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Monday.

Zhou said that cargo trains pass through Turkmenistan from different countries with various commodities such as energy and minerals.

Observers said that stepped-up transportation cooperation between China and Turkmenistan is also conducive for facilitating China's trade exchanges with other countries.

During the meeting held on June 12, the heads of both railway administrations discussed the modernization of Turkmenistan's transportation infrastructure, the creation of service centers, training of specialists, and the preparation of a regulatory framework for implementing prospective projects in the industry, Turkistan news outlet Business Turkmenistan reported.

Zhou said that China is capable of helping Turkmenistan in constructing a rail system through sharing technologies and standards, as well as talent training. He noted that railroad cooperation under the BRI has a big payoff with low risks, and it will also strengthen their cooperation in other sectors such as oil and natural gas.

China and Turkmenistan have completed the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline network, with three lines in operation. The lines start from the border between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, pass through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and end near the Khorgos Port in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.