Azerbaijan Railways and China State Railway Group agreed on Thursday to raise freight traffic on the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars line to as many as 10 trains a day, aiming to turn the route into a high-capacity artery between East and West.
The memorandum of understanding, signed in Baku, commits the two state rail operators to expand track, port and container facilities so that goods from Chinese factories can reach Türkiye and onward European markets more quickly, the companies said.
Central to the deal is the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) railway, a 846-kilometre link that forms the spine of the so-called Middle Corridor running from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean. Under the agreement, daily block-train capacity will rise to “up to ten” by the end of the decade, from only a handful today.
The partners will also deepen co-operation on Caspian Sea logistics, increase container services and explore joint investment in rolling stock. Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) completed a major modernisation of the Georgian section of the BTK in 2023–24, paving the way for heavier loads and faster transit times.
EU-backed studies estimate that east-west trade volumes through the Middle Corridor could triple by 2030 if bottlenecks are removed. By linking into Türkiye’s rail network, the BTK bypasses congested Black Sea ports and avoids Russian territory—a route that has gained importance since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Officials in Baku say the deal with Beijing cements Azerbaijan’s role as a regional hub. China already uses the line for test shipments of electronics and auto parts bound for Europe, but limited track capacity has so far capped throughput.
Further talks will focus on digital customs systems and harmonised tariffs to make the corridor competitive with maritime services via the Suez Canal.
Both sides said the memorandum “opens a new chapter” in Sino-Azeri transport ties and supports wider Belt and Road initiatives.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education, living costs and military service proposals. Violence erupted in Fra...
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's f...
Since 2021, only 9 per cent of $8 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan can be traced beyond initial recipients in public re...
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Since 2021, only 9 per cent of $8 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan can be traced beyond initial recipients in public records, a Kabul Institute report released on 22 October said. The United Nations says its oversight systems ensure accountability.
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan surged by 330 per cent in 2026 despite a four-year ban, the United Nations said on Thursday. Afghan authorities disputed the findings, while Japan urged continued support for farmers seeking alternative livelihoods.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
Central Asia could gain up to $640 million a year from closer energy cooperation, but strained electricity grids threaten to limit those gains, with Kazakhstan particularly exposed to regional power shortages and growing pressure on its network.
Georgia and Azerbaijan are stepping up efforts to boost trade, strengthen transport links between Asia and Europe and resolve a longstanding border dispute, as both countries seek to deepen their strategic partnership.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment