Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Iran, China, and Turkmenistan have reached a significant agreement on unified rail transport tariffs, a move that aims to enhance cargo flows along the China–Europe corridor through Central Asia and the Middle East, as reported by news and analysis channel AnewZ on Monday.
A high-level meeting in Tehran brought together representatives from the railway administrations of the six countries. The discussions were focused on strengthening the transport link from China to Europe via Central Asia and the Middle East.
One of the main outcomes of the talks was the approval of competitive and harmonized tariffs for rail cargo transportation along the China-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Türkiye/Europe rail corridor.
Delegates also agreed on measures to boost freight volumes and improve service efficiency. In addition to tariff alignment, the parties reached a consensus on key logistical parameters, including unified delivery times and streamlined procedures.
This initiative is expected to make the corridor a more cost-effective and reliable alternative for east-west trade, improving connectivity between Asia and Europe and supporting regional economic integration.
According to Kazakhstan, container traffic from China to Iran through Kazakhstan surged 2.6 times in the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, further highlighting the growing importance of this corridor for Eurasian trade.
