- Iranians holding Ashura mourning for Imam Hussein
- Third step: Iran officially informs EU of plan to expand nuclear R&D
- Iran expands nuclear R&D program: Rouhani
- Iran goes ahead in space tech, despite US sanctions: ISA
- Resistance Front undermining Israeli regime power: Top commander
- Iran: 7 crew members of detained UK ship freed
- US addiction to sanction threaten its power: Iran’s Zarif
- Dutch role in 2007 Stuxnet attack on Iran’s nuclear site under scrutiny: Iraian FM Spox.
- Iran: ‘Sustainable Security 2019’ kicks off in Caspian Sea
- Iran’s Zarif leaves Tehran for Moscow
- Shiraz University ranked 1st in liver transplantation: Iranian health official
- Japan’s Abe to meet Iran’s president to discuss easing tension in region
- Downing of US spy drone shattered war threats against Iran: Top IRGC commander
- IAEO head reports development of first ion-therapy hospital in west of Asia
- Iranian Taekwondo team wins 2019 World Cup championship
- US sanctions failed to force Iran to buckle: Report
- Crew fixing Iran oil tanker broken down in Red Sea
- As Iranians hold nerves, US seeks to scare off trade
- Leader expresses concern about Kashmir, urges India to follow fair policy toward Muslim-majority region
- Iran saffron exports down due to smuggling, government restrictions: Exporter
- Iran FM warns US against ‘serious miscalculation’ in Persian Gulf
- Iran’s resistance policy led to release of oil tanker: MP
- Iran in reverse brain drain as top students come home in rising numbers
- Iran official calls for compensation for tanker seizure
- Iran hails N Korea for standing against ‘unilateral’ US demands
- Shia Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Ghadir
- North Korea praises Iran’s anti-US struggle
- Zarif says to meet French president Friday
- Iranian court hearing case of UK oil tanker
- Over half of Japanese voters oppose joining US-led anti-Iran coalition in Persian Gulf: Poll
- IME trade ups by 21 percent in July
- Finland backs INSTEX in defiance of US
- US anti-Iran policy in high seas harms Europeans: LA Times
- Iran, China confer on Syria
- Iran, Finland share views on Persian Gulf dialogue forum: Zarif
- Iran warns US against seizure of oil tanker
- Iraq eager to benefit from Iranian Police’s experience
- Iran planning 3rd step to reduce nuclear commitments: Spokesman
- Leader grants clemency to over 1,000 Iranian inmates
- Registration for Arbaeen Pilgrimage to begin in Iran on Friday
- Iran, Iraq agree to reopen Khosravi border crossing
- Iran deplores suicide attack at Kabul wedding hall
- Iran to hold int'l hand-woven carpets expo
- Zarif meets with Iran-Kuwait Friendship Group members
- Adrian Darya oil tanker not under any sanctions, says Iran envoy
- ‘Iran to stay in nuclear deal as long as its interests are met’
- India envoy happy with positive trend of trade with Iran
- Iran’s annual export of white meat tops 2.5m tons: Minister
- Iranian scientist discovers new state of matter
- Iran, Japan diplomats discuss bilateral ties
- Iran, Ansarullah, European representatives Yemen developments
- ‘Iran to become self-sufficient in producing aircraft engines'
- US issues seizure warrant for Iranian supertanker 'Grace 1'
- Neanderthal tooth unearthed near Iran’s Zagros mountain
- Iran’s Zarif due in Kuwait on Saturday
- US faces humiliating defeat after Gibraltar releases Iranian tanker: Envoy
- Spokesman rejects claim on Iran’s commitment in exchange for tanker release
- Zarif reacts to release of Iranian tanker in Gibraltar
- Israel, UAE engaged in secret talks on Iran arranged by US: Report
- US threatens visa ban as Iranian-operated tanker sets to sail from Gibraltar
- Enemies must factor Iran's global power in their calculations: IRGC's chief commander
- Trump’s administration conflicting messages to Iran baffle go-betweens: Report
- Gibraltar releases Iran-operated tanker despite US pressure
TEHRAN, June 26 - A freight train from China arrived in the Iranian city of Bandar Anzali on the Caspian Sea Tuesday, marking a new trade link with world countries and giving a fresh boost to the “Silk Road” revival.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri attended a ceremony to inaugurate the rail service which he described as “very important”.
“Today, the first cargo through the China-Kazakhstan-Iran transportation corridor entered the Anzali Free Zone, connecting China to the Kazakh port of Aktau and Iran,” IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.
“This route is very important, and we hope that our relationship with neighboring countries, especially China, will expand because this relationship will also expand our strategic ties with other countries,” he added.
The route is part of a transcontinental rail service spearheaded by China under its “One Belt, One Road” policy to carry cargo between the Far East and Western Europe.
Iran is a key part of the $8 trillion project to increase trade and open new markets, which has strong political backing from top leaders for economic and strategic reasons.
The southern route sees freight from China cross into Kazakhstan before joining up
with Trans-Siberian railroad at Yekaterinburg in Russia. China plans to extend it to Western Europe via Central Asia, Iran and Turkey and the Balkans.
The first train from China arrived at Tehran railway station in 2016, marking an important symbolic milestone in developing the route and stimulating the Silk Road revival.
The rail service offers a faster option than sea freight but a cheaper one than air cargo.
It also boosts economic integration among the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries.
“The Silk Road is a sign of Iran's cultural, historical and civilizational ties with neighboring countries,” Jahangiri said.
Jointly led by Russia and China, the SCO is going from strength to strength after India and Pakistan joined the bloc last year, while Iran has been knocking at the door.
The SCO accounts for over 60 percent of the Eurasian landmass, nearly half of the world's population and over 20 percent of global GDP.
When the first freight train from China arrived in Tehran in February 2016, it carried 32 containers on a 14-day journey which was 30 days shorter than the time usually taken by ships to sail from Shanghai to Iran’s Bandar Abbas port.
China plays a central role in Iran’s railway modernization and expansion plan under which Tehran seeks to invest $25 billion over the next 10 years in the sector.
China is Iran’s largest trading partner and long-time ally, with the two countries having agreed to boost bilateral trade by more than 10 times to $600 billion in the next decade.
Source: Presstv
Your Comment