Senior officials from Azerbaijan, the European Union and China used the stage at the Munich Security Conference to promote the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or Middle Corridor, as a fast-growing trade artery and a potential anchor of regional stability.
The roughly 8,000–10,000 kilometer route linking China to Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus has seen cargo volumes surge in recent years, drawing interest amid efforts to diversify away from northern routes through Russia.
The Munich Security Conference panel on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route featured President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Eastern Partnership Marta Kos, Founder and President of the Center for China and Globalization and former State Counselor of the People’s Republic of China Wang Huiyao.
The discussion was moderated by Helga Maria Schmid, Ambassador for Global Affairs at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany and President of the European Institute of Peace.
Panelists argued that connectivity is no longer just about logistics, but about resilience, de-risking and long-term geopolitical balance across Eurasia.
President Ilham Aliyev linked infrastructure expansion directly to the normalization process with Armenia, describing peace as both a prerequisite and a product of deeper regional connectivity.
“Peace is being established along our borders. A completely new situation has emerged,” President Aliyev said, referring to developments since the August initialing of a peace document in Washington.
He expressed hope a formal peace agreement would be signed this year.
“I hope we will sign peace agreement this year,” he said, noting that there have been no shootings along the border in recent months and that practical cooperation, including cargo transit and energy supplies, has begun.
Ilham Aliyev emphasized that infrastructure investment underpins Azerbaijan’s role as a transit hub.
“Without physical infrastructure, geographical position doesn’t mean a lot,” he said.
Connectivity through Armenia toward Türkiye and Europe would significantly boost cargo flows, he said, adding that corridors will “create an entirely new situation in the South Caucasus” by fostering trilateral cooperation among Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia.
During the Q&A session, President Aliyev also addressed Russian attacks on Azerbaijani-owned facilities and diplomatic premises in Ukraine, confirming the issue had been raised diplomatically and describing the incidents as “deliberate” and “unfriendly.”
Comissioner Marta Kos framed the corridor within the EU’s Global Gateway and broader de-risking strategy.
She said geopolitical shifts and progress in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations have opened new opportunities for cooperation that were previously unthinkable.
Kos thanked President Aliyev for leadership in advancing peace efforts and argued that Europe must rethink the Black Sea and Caspian regions as connectors rather than dividing lines.
Studies cited during the panel suggest the corridor could triple traffic volumes by 2030, significantly reduce transit times and lower costs for businesses. Kos acknowledged regulatory bottlenecks, including multiple customs checkpoints, and emphasized digitalization and coordinated platforms involving EU member states, the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
“In these times of geopolitical challenges, we are doing the opposite — building connections,” she said.
Wang Huiyao described the Middle Corridor as complementary to existing Eurasian routes, including northern corridors through Russia.
He pointed to China’s Belt and Road Initiative and extensive investments across Central Asia and the Caspian region, arguing that diversified infrastructure strengthens economic resilience.
Greater trade and connectivity, he suggested, build trust and reduce the likelihood of conflict, positioning the corridor not as a geopolitical rival, but as part of a broader network of Eurasian integration.
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