ADY and China's Xi'an Port Expand Cooperation to Increase Cargo Transportation via the Middle Corridor

On November 25, a meeting was held at «Azerbaijan Railways» CJSC (ADY) with a delegation from the Xi'an International Port of the People's Republic of China.

At the meeting, ADY Chairman Rovshan Rustamov emphasized the active development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and China in cargo transportation through the Middle Corridor. A historic milestone underscoring this collaboration was the recent dispatch of export goods from Baku to China by rail for the first time.

It was highlighted that this significant event marks a new chapter in the economic and transport relations between the two countries. Cargo transportation in both directions, East-to-West and West-to-East, enhances the efficiency of the Middle Corridor. ADY is keen to further intensify its collaboration with China under the frameworks of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Transport Route.

It was noted that ADY is implementing several key projects to transform Azerbaijan into an international transport and logistics hub and to increase cargo volumes along international corridors passing through the country. The expansion of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway and the increase in its freight capacity to 5 million tons per year enable faster cargo flows along the East-West route.

Director of the Xi'an International Port Management Committee Sun Yimin and General Director of Xi’an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co Ltd Yuan Xiaojun emphasized the importance of developing cooperation with Azerbaijani transport and logistics organizations, including ADY. They also stressed the need to expand collaboration to increase cargo volumes via the Middle Corridor.

It should be noted that the first export block train, "Baku–Xi'an," consists of 62 40-foot containers. The cargo will be delivered through Kazakhstan to one of China's largest dry ports, Xi'an Port. As part of the project, a total of 15,000 tons of export goods (600 containers) is planned to be shipped along this route by the end of the year.

Since the beginning of 2024, 280 container block trains have been dispatched from China to Azerbaijan via the Middle Corridor. By the end of the year, more than 300 such trains are expected to arrive. In 2025, the number of trains is planned to increase more than threefold, reaching 1,000.