China Opens New Land Cargo Route to Afghanistan
A freight train departed from Lanzhou, the capital of northwest China’s Gansu Province, on July 5 and headed for Hairatan in Afghanistan, marking the launch of a new cargo route.
The train travelled to Kashgar, a city in the far western part of China’s westernmost province, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, carrying 39 containers, including furniture, office supplies, mechanical equipment, and automobile parts. The train followed many of the same routes as the ancient Silk Road.
On Thursday, the first freight train to travel a new freight route left its eastern base in China’s Gansu Province and headed for Afghanistan, making significant progress towards Central Asia’s goal of regional integration.
According to Chinese media, the route is estimated to be 1,940 miles (3,125 km) long and will take 15 days to complete.
“We hope to normalize the route for Sino-Afghanistan express service and aim to run four times a month,” Chinese media were informed by Li Wei, the marketing manager for New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co, one of the major companies engaged in the shipment.
It also said that the effective inauguration of this goods route would further improve economic and trade cooperation and exchanges among China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and other countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.
Northwest China’s Lanzhou is a central hub for transportation. It offers international rail services to over 30 cities and over 20 countries.
When the Taliban took control of the country in 2021, regional countries, including China, Pakistan, and Iran, moved to try and stabilize the country as US forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Qin Gang of China recently stated: “China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan on the Afghan issue, facilitate the process of peaceful reconstruction in Afghanistan, as well as stability and progress in the region.”
The Five Nations Railway Corridor, which would utilize a portion of the rail lines used in the recently opened goods route, is an initiative to establish a railway route from Kashgar to the Iranian city of Khaf on the other side of Afghanistan. Kashgar is located in the far western section of Afghanistan. The Tien Shan, which has some of the tallest mountains in the world, will also need to be crossed by the railroads.
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