China will launch a tourist train to Tashkent and Samarkand, announced the press service of the Uzbek company "Uzbekiston Temir Yullari."
This initiative, along with strengthening railway and logistics ties between the two countries, was discussed during negotiations between the First Deputy Chairman of "Uzbekiston Temir Yullari," Hikmatulla Rakhmetov, and a delegation from the Xi'an Municipal Committee of China in Tashkent.
Growing trade volumes between the two countries require increased transport capacities and the development of new routes.
By the end of 2023, nearly half of the 675 container trains dispatched from the Xi'an port to Central Asian countries were destined for Uzbekistan.
In continuation of this trend, the Uzbek side confirmed readiness to further increase cargo flows through the Chinese logistics hub. Specifically, the transportation of 20,000 TEU containers along the Xi'an - Jizzakh (Uzbekistan) route is planned by the end of this year.
To meet the growing transit needs, the management of "Uzbekiston Temir Yullari" proposed that Chinese partners consider organizing transportation along the new Xi'an - Kashgar - Irkeshtam - Osh - Andijan route.
Additionally, the Uzbek state company proposed that China's Shaanxi province join the currently forming CASCA+ logistics consortium.
Alongside the development of cargo transportation, the Chinese side announced plans to launch a tourist railway route from Xi'an through Uzbekistan to Almaty. This opens new prospects not only for strengthening trade and economic ties but also for cultural and humanitarian relations between the countries of the region.
The concession agreement signed by Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China for the construction of a new railway through the region will undoubtedly enhance the region's transit potential.
Thus, there is a comprehensive activation of efforts to strengthen transport and logistics cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and China.
Uzbekistan, advantageously located in the heart of the region, aims to fully leverage the emerging opportunities for growing transit cargo and passenger flows in the eastern direction.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
June 11, 2024