Iran and Turkey pledged today to begin construction of a railway link connecting the two countries, which is set to become a strategic link for global trade between Europe and Asia.
Iran, a Middle Eastern country located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, sees its geographical location as an advantage. The country is therefore multiplying its initiatives with its neighbors to develop infrastructure and trade, which is seen as an opportunity to revive its economy, weakened by decades of international sanctions.
Last year, Tehran approved the route of a rail transit line with its Turkish neighbor, known in Iran as the Marand-Çeşmeh Soray line.
"Both countries stressed the importance of this railway connection in the region and expressed hope that construction of the line could begin as soon as possible," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said today during a meeting in Tehran with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.
Emphasis was placed on the need to remove barriers to trade and investment between the two countries, Aragçi added.
The project, approximately 200 kilometers long and estimated to cost $1,6 billion, is expected to be completed within three to four years, according to Iranian authorities.
The line will connect the Iranian city of Marand (northwest) with Çeşmeh Soray, which is located on Iranian territory on the border with Turkey.
Once completed, the line will provide continuous rail traffic between Iran and its Turkish neighbor all the way to the city of Aralik.
Iranian Transport Minister Farzaneh Sadeg recently stressed that this connection will "guarantee the continuity of the (rail) network between China and Europe."
For centuries, the Silk Road was a vast network of trade routes that connected Asia to Europe via the Middle East, fostering the exchange of goods as well as culture and knowledge between the continents.
Since 2013, China has made it a political project to increase its influence abroad.
The Belt and Road Initiative (officially known as the New Silk Road) aims to build maritime, road and rail infrastructure, especially in developing countries.
More than 100 countries are participating in this project.
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