Astana: Kazakhstan’s Astana recently hosted a significant working meeting at the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) office, welcoming a delegation from the China International Engineering Consulting Corporation (CIECC), Trend reports via the official Middle Corridor website.
According to Trend News Agency, the meeting was orchestrated under the guidance of China’s National Development and Reform Commission. Its primary focus was to assess the current operational status of China-Europe rail transport and explore enhancement opportunities along the TITR route. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on various aspects, including container train traffic dynamics, competitive positioning of the TITR, tariff structures, and quota optimization. They also addressed operational challenges, highlighting the importance of infrastructure development and key hubs, such as the newly launched container hub at Aktau port. Additionally, strategies to reduce delivery times and implement digital solutions for cargo tracking were deliberated.
The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to continue collaboration and joint efforts to boost transport efficiency along the TITR route, thereby promoting sustainable development of China-Europe rail connections. CIECC, the largest state consulting company in China, operates under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council. The corporation has an impressive track record, having executed over 150,000 projects across transport, energy, urban development, and high-tech sectors, with a cumulative value surpassing 200 trillion yuan.
The Middle Corridor serves as a strategic transport and trade route linking Asia and Europe, offering an alternative to the traditional Northern and Southern corridors. Beginning in China, the route traverses Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, crosses the Caspian Sea, and continues through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Trkiye before reaching Europe. This corridor provides a shorter land-based connection between eastern Asia, including China, and Europe.