China, Central Asia, and Middle East Officials Forge New Container Route to Europe

Senior officials from the railway departments of China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Türkiye have met in Beijing to discuss the launch of a new container route connecting China to Europe via Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Türkiye.

Organized at the invitation of Chinese logistics firm CRCT, the meeting marked a significant advancement in transregional transport cooperation across Asia and Europe, The Caspian Post reports per Turkmen media.

Key topics included the operational efficiency of the proposed route, the conditions for launching a pilot container train, and tariff incentives. Following productive discussions, the participants committed to joint efforts to establish competitive shipping conditions, boost freight volumes, and develop multimodal logistics networks.

This new corridor stems from agreements reached at a six-party railway meeting held in Tehran in May 2025, which approved two primary routes:

China - Kazakhstan - Turkmenistan - Iran - Türkiye

China - Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan - Iran - Türkiye

Turkmenistan occupies a strategic position in this emerging alternative land corridor between East and West. Its geographic location and growing railway and logistics infrastructure form a solid base for its active role in international transport chains and the expansion of its transit capacity.

The implementation of these routes is expected to accelerate delivery times, reduce transportation costs, and enhance the resilience and connectivity of trade links between Asia and Europe.