Tehran, Beijing underscore boost in container trains to bolster trade ties
CEO of Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAJA) Jabbar Ali Zakeri and his Chinese counterpart on Monday placed a premium on increasing the number of container trains between the two countries.
Zakeri and Guo Zhuxue met and discussed during the former’s trip to China to participate in the General Assembly of the International Union of Railways (UIC) and also the 12th World Congress on High-Speed Rail.
The chairman of China Railways pointed to the deepening of cooperation between Tehran and Beijing in recent years, and commended the 2024 resumption of container trains between the two sides, expressing hope that bilateral cooperation would expand.
Guo hailed Iran as an important partner within the framework of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative and emphasized the need for coordination to stabilize prices and facilitate customs procedures in the southern corridor.
The CEO of Iranian Railways also, referring to the historical relations between the two countries, outlined Iran Railways' plan for developing the rail network and increasing transit and freight transport.
Referring to the electrification and double-tracking projects of the East-West corridor in Iran from Sarakhs border to Razi border, Zakeri said, “A contract for the electrification of about one thousand kilometers of this route, with the aim of increasing rail freight capacity from five million tons to 15 million tons, has been finalized with one of the Chinese companies.”
Stressing that the East-West corridor is divided into the three branches of northern, central, and southern, he said, “A proposal has been made by Afghanistan Railways to Iran regarding the construction of a railway line from Kashgar, China, to Afghanistan with a standard gauge in the East-West corridor. This is a good opportunity for Iran and China to establish integrated rail connectivity between these two countries with a standard rail line.”
Zakeri, pointing to the investment of several foreign companies in the Aprin dry rail port, invited China Railways to invest in the strategic port.