Iran best route for China and Russia to transit products: Official

Afandizadeh made the remarks on Tuesday in the meeting of Chinese Ambassador to Iran, Chang Hua,  and the accompanying delegation.

Iran’s deputy minister of roads and urban development in the meeting said that Iran can play a constructive role in a win-win situation with other countries both in the north-south and east-west corridors.

He added: Tehran knows that a large amount of goods are exported to European countries through China and imported into this country, so Iran can be a safe axis with suitable capacities for transiting goods for China.

Deputy minister of roads and urban development in the meeting added that according to Iran–China 25-year Cooperation Program, Iran's potential for transit can be used, and in the field of transportation, the development of rail networks and the development of ports and combined transportation are considered.

Referring to the high capacities of Iranian ports such as Astara, Amirabad and Anzali for investment, Afandizadeh said: Iran is seriously looking for the development of the west-east axis, and China can also participate in the promotion and development of rail systems in northern ports.

This Iranian official in another part of his remarks, termed the Chabahar port project as one of the most influential projects  and said: Iran is looking to create a rail system through Chabahar to Zahedan and from Zahedan to Sarakhs, and if Chabahar and Sarakhs railway would be completed in the future, the the North-South Corridor from the eastern side of Iran will definitely be shorter and it can connect the Chinese government to the free countries of the south and the Persian Gulf.

Afandizadeh said: Iran's ports have the capacity to create logistics centers and become regional hubs, and now there is an opportunity for the two countries to develop transport and transit ties.