Geostrategic significance of new China – Iran rail line
Published: 02:07 PM,Jul 31,2024 | EDITED : 06:07 PM,Jul 31,2024
An international freight rail line for containers was recently launched between China and Iran, becoming a new channel for enhancing trade between the two countries. It was conceived within the ambit of China's 'One Belt - One Road' project. China has signed many agreements with several countries around the world to support this project with the wider goal of strengthening commercial, cultural, and humanitarian relations.
In contrast, during the same period, a number of Asian countries, notably India, besides the United States and some Gulf and Arab countries have been strengthening their alliance with the American axis states besides Israel, the Zionist state, with the aim of proposed initiatives to counter the Chinese “Belt and Road” project. One such initiative aims to transfer goods from India via some GCC countries, then onward to Jordan and from there to Israel before traversing Palestinian Gaza, en route by sea to European countries.
There is no doubt that the restart of the international freight rail line between Iran and China, passing through Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, will re-establish the eastern corridor to European countries to transport Chinese goods via container trains to countries that have trade relations among them. This network will help to ease their dependence on the 'US dollar' as the principal currency for trade between these countries.
These trains will pass through other countries, such as Turkiye, and will be included in the project in the future. They will help local economies by directing goods to European countries and strengthening cooperation among them to include commercial, industrial and cultural cooperation as well.
Officials in China believe that the launch of the double container train between Iran and China complements the One Belt – One Road project. They recall the history of the Silk Road linking the two countries some 2,000 years ago. Economic and trade exchanges between Beijing and Tehran have since witnessed significant growth in recent years.
Both China and Iran are working successfully to strengthen the policy of cooperation among themselves and with other countries to continue the achievements. These trade ties will boost the exchange of local goods and services, but also serve to offset the effects of the economic boycott imposed on both countries in different sectors.
The ceremony that was held on the inauguration of the first phase of the railway line between the two countries towards Europe was witnessed by several officials in the two countries along with officials from their neighbouring Asian countries. They believe that the success of this project is due to the diplomatic efforts made in over the past years in the field of railway transport and has become today a fast and safe gateway for transporting goods from China to Iran and from there to neighboring countries on the European continent.
The first phase of the railway project will significantly shorten the period of transporting goods compared to maritime transport and will provide distinct security and safety for businessmen and cargo owners, especially in the countries through which the line passes, at a time when the two countries are looking to increase the number of trains from one trip per week to daily trips in order to increase the volume of trade exchanges in the future.
HAIDER AL LAWATI
The author is a Muscat-based economic analyst who previously worked for CBO and OCCI
In contrast, during the same period, a number of Asian countries, notably India, besides the United States and some Gulf and Arab countries have been strengthening their alliance with the American axis states besides Israel, the Zionist state, with the aim of proposed initiatives to counter the Chinese “Belt and Road” project. One such initiative aims to transfer goods from India via some GCC countries, then onward to Jordan and from there to Israel before traversing Palestinian Gaza, en route by sea to European countries.
There is no doubt that the restart of the international freight rail line between Iran and China, passing through Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, will re-establish the eastern corridor to European countries to transport Chinese goods via container trains to countries that have trade relations among them. This network will help to ease their dependence on the 'US dollar' as the principal currency for trade between these countries.
These trains will pass through other countries, such as Turkiye, and will be included in the project in the future. They will help local economies by directing goods to European countries and strengthening cooperation among them to include commercial, industrial and cultural cooperation as well.
Officials in China believe that the launch of the double container train between Iran and China complements the One Belt – One Road project. They recall the history of the Silk Road linking the two countries some 2,000 years ago. Economic and trade exchanges between Beijing and Tehran have since witnessed significant growth in recent years.
Both China and Iran are working successfully to strengthen the policy of cooperation among themselves and with other countries to continue the achievements. These trade ties will boost the exchange of local goods and services, but also serve to offset the effects of the economic boycott imposed on both countries in different sectors.
The ceremony that was held on the inauguration of the first phase of the railway line between the two countries towards Europe was witnessed by several officials in the two countries along with officials from their neighbouring Asian countries. They believe that the success of this project is due to the diplomatic efforts made in over the past years in the field of railway transport and has become today a fast and safe gateway for transporting goods from China to Iran and from there to neighboring countries on the European continent.
The first phase of the railway project will significantly shorten the period of transporting goods compared to maritime transport and will provide distinct security and safety for businessmen and cargo owners, especially in the countries through which the line passes, at a time when the two countries are looking to increase the number of trains from one trip per week to daily trips in order to increase the volume of trade exchanges in the future.
HAIDER AL LAWATI
The author is a Muscat-based economic analyst who previously worked for CBO and OCCI