First Chinese train has started its journey towards Iran; Part of China's One Belt One Road Project

[Daneshmand]

Train to Tehran winds along Silk Road into West Asia


Analysts say that flagging of the train to Tehran signals Iran’s participation in the China-initiated Belt and Road connectivity initiative

China on Thursday demonstrated the integration of West Asia in its New Silk Road connectivity project by flagging a train from its trading hub of Yiwu to Tehran.

The container train will cover a journey of 10,399 km in its maiden journey to West Asia in14 days. It will exit China through Alataw Pass in western China’s Xinjiang province, and then pass through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan before heading for the Iranian capital. Yiwu is already connected by trains that head for Duisburg in Germany and Madrid.

In a recent visit to Iran — a country that has just broken out of a sanctions regime — Chinese President Xi Jinping has imparted a new geopolitical dimension to Beijing-Tehran ties by signing a pact that would be valid for 25 years. A strategic partnership agreement that was also inked covers military and security cooperation, including intelligence sharing.

Besides, the Chinese President backed Iran’s full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), signalling Tehran’s integration in a growing network of Eurasian countries. Analysts say that flagging of the train to Tehran signals Iran’s participation in the China-initiated Belt and Road connectivity initiative, which hopes to inter-link Asia with Europe with expressways, railways, cyber-connectors, smart cities and industrial parks.

Xinhua is reporting that 4,000 businessmen from West Asia live in Yiwu, where more than 180 companies from the region have made investments. In 2015, the city exported goods worth 8.8 billion dollars to West Asia.

 

[Madali]

This is an extremely important news. Logistics are the backbone of international trade.

 

[Shotgunner51]

The container train will cover a journey of 10,399 km in its maiden journey to West Asia

China-initiated Belt and Road connectivity initiative, which hopes to inter-link Asia with Europe with expressways, railways, cyber-connectors, smart cities and industrial parks.

Expressways, railways, cyber-connectors, smart cities and industrial parks ... on this 10,399 km between Yiwu and Tehran. That's the vision for coming decades.

4,000 businessmen from West Asia live in Yiwu, where more than 180 companies from the region have made investments. In 2015, the city exported goods worth 8.8 billion dollars to West Asia.

Yiwu is just one small Chinese city, there are a lot more. Envision more businessmen, tourists, investments, goods, services are going across borders, just like in ancient days between Persia and Middle Kingdom. I believe monies flowing between China and Iran could well surpass $600 billion as signed/agreed between the two governments.

 

[haman10]

We need to join SCO ,ASAP . and i mean ASAP .

This is BS. lack of unity has done enough to us easterners .Why should they have NATO and protect each other in case of foreign threats but we shouldn't ? what are we dummies ?

Their threat is real ! and its F-ing close . If China , Russia or India think they are safe just cause they have certain powers they are so F-ing wrong .

Iran and Pakistan need to join this council and we need to form a freakin military pact . NOW .

In such a case ,China can regain her unity (if you know what i mean ) much easier or Russia wouldn't be alone in situations like that with Crimea and Georgia .

@vostok @Chinese-Dragon @ChineseTiger1986 @Tshering22

 

[xenon54 out]

This is BS. lack of unity has done enough to us easterners .Why should they have NATO and protect each other in case of foreign threats but we shouldn't ? what are we dummies ?

SCO isnt a defence alliance, i dont know why its being compared to NATO so often, its more comparable with EU instead.

 

[haman10]

SCO isnt a defence alliance

we need to form a freakin military pact

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Cooperation_Organisation#Military_activities

 

[xenon54 out]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Cooperation_Organisation#Military_activities

It has military activities but its not primarily a military pact, i hardly believe its members would actively defend eachother.