Kabul (Agencies): China and Afghanistan have launched direct freight train services, marking a significant step in trade relations between the two nations. The freight train, which departed n 31st October 2024 from Nantong in China’s Jiangsu Province, is carrying 50 containers loaded with electrical goods, equipment, and other products. The train is expected to reach Hairatan Port in Afghanistan in approximately 20 days.
The train will follow a route passing through several Central Asian countries, starting in Nantong, China, and heading to Xinjiang Province. It will then travel through Kyrgyzstan via road to Osh, where the cargo will be loaded onto trains again. From there, the train crosses into Andijan, Uzbekistan, and continues through Eastern Uzbekistan to its final destination, Hairatan Port in Afghanistan. This comprehensive route underscores the strategic importance of the “Belt and Road” initiative in enhancing trade networks across Asia.
The inauguration of this service is part of China’s broader “Belt and Road” initiative, aimed at enhancing infrastructure and trade networks across Asia. Chinese officials, including Yue Xiaoyong, Beijing’s special envoy to Afghanistan, attended the ceremony. Bilal Karimi, the Taliban’s ambassador to China, highlighted the importance of this route for future trade and economic integration.
The direct freight train link is expected to expand trade between China and Afghanistan, providing a more efficient and cost-effective means of transporting goods between the two countries.