High-speed rail to link China to Iran

amoy

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High-speed rail to link China to Iran

Sat Nov 21, 2015 7:26AM

HomeIranEconomy

The proposed Silk Road route will connect China to West Asia.

Chinese authorities have proposed a high-speed railway connecting its western city of Urumqi to Tehran, the country’s biggest English-language newspaper, China Daily, says.

The proposed Silk Road route will connect China to West Asia, stretching from Urumqi and Yining to Almaty in Kazakhstan, Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, Tashkent and Samarkand in Uzbekistan, Ashgabat in Turkmenistan to the Iranian capital.

It was put forward by China Railway Corp authorities at a forum on the One Belt, One Road initiative -- the Asian giant’s bold scheme to rebuild Silk Road trade links with Europe and Asia.

Iran is participating in the ambitious plan to resurrect the Silk Road, connecting Asia to Europe and Africa through a network of roads, railways, ports and airports.

Stretching from Hungary to Indonesia, Beijing estimates the initiative will annually create more than $2.5 trillion of trade among the countries in a decade.

The new link would be complementary to the existing railway network in central Asian nations, which mostly runs to Moscow.

Iran is currently linked to Central Asia through a rail corridor which connects it to Kazakhstan and Russia through Turkmenistan, and another to Europe via Turkey.


The Silk Road encompass a territory housing 4.4 billion people or 63% of the world’s population.

The One Belt, One Road initiative comes from the shortening of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

The two routes combined encompass a territory housing 4.4 billion people or 63% of the world’s population. The aggregate wealth of the countries involved adds up to $2.1 trillion or 29% of the world’s gross domestic product.

The initiative would involve financing infrastructure projects in 65 nations across Central and Southeast Asia, the Persian Gulf, the Middle East and Europe.

The ancient Silk Road, established more than 2,100 years ago, connected the Han dynasty’s capital of Xian to Persia.

Through it, Iran’s grapes, beans, pomegranates, spinach, onions and other special products were introduced into China while tea, ginger, mulberries, peaches, apricots and oranges were brought to Iran over a period of more than 1,000 years.

Earlier this year, Chinese authorities toured Iranian ports, including Shahid Rajaee in the Persian Gulf, to assess infrastructure development grounds.

Apart from its economic significance, the grand project is believed to lead to significant geopolitical changes.

According to many observers, it could spell the collapse of US economic dominance through the dollar and lead to the prevalence of trade in local currencies. It could also put an end to European monopoly on international shipping.

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/11/21/438538/Iran-China-railway-Urumqi-Tehran-Silk-Road



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amoy

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Iran, China plan for 25-year strategic partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday conferred with the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani and agreed to plan for a 25-year strategic partnership.

During the meeting in Tehran, the Leader described the agreement concluded between the Iranian and Chinese president for having a "25-year strategic partnership" as a "right and wise" decision, saying both states are seeking ties with "independent and trustworthy states."

Ayatollah Khamenei also welcomed the proposal of Xi for a revival of the ancient Silk Road trade route, calling it a "reasonable idea".

The Leader also praised the Chinese officials for their stance towards Iran when it was under sanctions, saying, "the Islamic Republic will not forget Chinese cooperation during the sanctions era."

Ayatollah Khamenei also said that energy is one of the most important issues of the world, adding, "Iran is the only state in the region in the field of energy that can be trusted because it is not under influence of any non-Iranian element, unlike some regional states."

Referring to hegemonic policies of certain countries, especially the US, and their biased cooperation with other countries, the Leader said independent counties are seeking to increase their bilateral ties and "the decision by Iran and China for having the 25-year strategic partnership is within this framework."

"Westerners have never been able to win the trust of the Iranian nation," the Leader stressed.

Laying emphasis on supporting the “one-China policy” as a principled and definite policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Leader said, while referring to the remarks of Chinese president regarding Tehran-Beijing security cooperation.

Ayatollah Khamenei also said, "Unfortunately our region due to wrong Western policies and corrupt reading of Islam has become insecure which can be expanded and must be stopped through rational cooperation."

The Leader slammed the US-led coalition formed with the alleged aim of targeting ISIL terrorists in the Middle East, saying Washington has never been honest in its motives.

During the meeting, the Chinese president called for expansion of bilateral ties on the basis of mutual interests.

Iran and China have complementary economies, he said, adding, “We achieved an agreement to plan for 25-year strategic cooperation and are ready to expand collaboration in cultural, educational, technological, military and security fields as strategic partners.”

Referring to Iran’s connection with China in the past through the Silk Road, Xi said the Silk Road “is a symbol of peace, progress and friendly exchanges.”

"The countries located along this road, through expansion of their cooperation, can counterbalance the American model meant to undermine the economic balance of the region and defend their own interests."

Some superpowers try to impose their monopoly and promote the rule of jungle based on “either with us or with our enemy”, but the emerging economies have undermined their monopoly and prepared a suitable ground for the ideas and policies of independent states, he added.

China’s support of Iran’s nuclear issue and Iran’s support of one-China policy are some examples of mutual trust and independent policies of the two countries, Xi said, adding, “We are following the path of independent development and as we stood on the side of Iran during the sanctions era, we are ready to expand cooperation with Tehran in the post-sanctions era.”

"It is necessary to develop a mechanism to boost mutual security cooperation to face terrorism and deal with complicated regional issues," Xi said.

Before his meeting with the Leader, the Chinese president held talks with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani.

Rouhani said Chinese president's official visit to Iran marks a "historic" event in relations between Tehran and Beijing.

“The important visit by … President Xi Jinping…marks an important historic event and I am sure that a new chapter has started in relations between Iran and China,” Rouhani said alongside Xi in Tehran, Press TV reported.

Rouhani said that the Islamic Republic welcomes stronger ties with China particularly after the recent lifting of international sanctions on Iran.

He also said Iran and China have agreed on more cooperation to “combat regional terrorism.”

Cooperation on fighting terrorism

Rouhani said he and his Chinese counterpart discussed cooperation for “creating stability and security in the Middle East and helping countries plagued by terrorism, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and providing intellectual and intelligence assistance in the fight against terrorism.”

Xi, who arrived in Tehran on Friday night, said he has traveled to Iran to prepare the ground for a new “prospect in relations between the two countries."

He noted that Iran-China strong cooperation will not only benefit the governments and nations of the two countries, but also would serve “regional and global peace.”

Xi, the first head of state visiting Iran since sanctions were lifted on Tehran, said he seeks “strategic ties with Iran”, particularly in energy market.

China, a top oil consumer, has been a top buyer of Iran’s crude. Even after international sanctions targeted Tehran’s energy sector, China continued its cooperation with Iran by purchasing oil and developing energy projects.

New documents inked

Iran and China signed 17 documents for cooperation in economic, industrial, cultural and judicial fields in the presence of the two countries’ presidents.

The documents included one signed between Iranian and Chinese nuclear chiefs for nuclear cooperation for production of energy.

Others involved documents for environmental cooperation, financing of a bullet train railway and banking cooperation.

Old friendship

Upon arrival in Tehran, Xi said that Iran and China, whose friendship dates back to 2,000 years ago, have made important contribution to human progress.

He said establishment of political relations between Iran and China has resulted in important achievements in the political, economic and cultural sectors.

The value of trade transactions between Tehran and Beijing stood at some $52 billion in 2014. However, the figure dropped in 2015 due to decreasing oil prices.

China remains Iran’s top trade partner. According to China’s Commerce Department, during the first 11 months of 2015, China imported 24.36 million tons of crude oil from Iran, or 8 percent of its total imports.

China’s oil companies have also been increasing investment in oil projects overseas.

Following the recent removal of sanctions, Iran is once again open to global business, which makes the market more competitive as many global companies are already moving to resume trade with Iran.

The Chinese president’s trip to Tehran is the last leg of his three-nation tour which has also taken him to Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
 

garg_bharat

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Makes a lot of sense. High speed rail is the way to go as air travel consumes too much petroleum. Eventually air travel has to be replaced with terrestrial travel.
 

garg_bharat

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India should also develop high speed rail and seek connectivity with the chinese system.
 

amoy

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Makes a lot of sense. High speed rail is the way to go as air travel consumes too much petroleum. Eventually air travel has to be replaced with terrestrial travel.
especially economical for cargo transport in bulk. and many of countries en route are land locked.

Xi of China this time had a 3-nation tour of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iran. Iran is the most promising country obviously among the 3. Without more details it can be easily sensed through proficiency in playing national anthems by the their respective military bands at welcoming ceremonies Iran's was in high spirit whereas Arab's sounded drowsy.
 

amoy

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Now it happens ~ First container train links China to Middle East

Source:Xinhua Published: 2016-1-28 17:42:30

A container train linking China and Iran departed from Yiwu City in east China's Zhejiang Province loaded with Chinese small commodities on Thursday morning.

According to the train's operator, Yiwu Tianmeng industry investment company, it is the first regular container train linking China to the Middle East.

The train will exit China through Alataw Pass in Xinjiang, the westmost Chinese region, and pass through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan before reaching its destination Tehran.

Company president Feng Xubin said it will take the train 14 days to complete the 10,399 kilometers journey.

Catering to the Belt and Road Initiative, the train is expected to further promote China's cooperation with Middle Eastern countries.

Yiwu is a famous production base for small commodities and it has been keeping close foreign trade ties with countries in the Middle East.

There are currently about 4,000 Middle Eastern businessmen living in Yiwu and more than 180 companies set up by Middle Eastern investors. The city witnessed 58.3 billion yuan (8.8 billion U. S. dollars) of exports to the Middle East in 2015.





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salute

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Makes a lot of sense. High speed rail is the way to go as air travel consumes too much petroleum. Eventually air travel has to be replaced with terrestrial travel.
makes sense ???
hugh load of cargo by bullet train,
that hugh cargo gonna be enormous weight travelling through different countries on land by train and on rail tracks,
on something like bullet train just a passengers and their luggages weight wrongly placed could be enough to make that train unbalanced,
india requires safe sea route for cargo,
and high speed rail for india or at most subcontinent,
only chinese govt. comes up with these crazy thoughts,
india cannot spend on these.
 

amoy

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Chinese Bank Keen on Funding Iran’s Shipping Fleet

TEHRAN, Jan. 17 (Shana) – A Chinese bank intends to extend a $5-billion credit line to develop Iran’s shipping and tanker fleet, said the Iranian minister of cooperatives labor and social welfare.

The fund is proposed to be used by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), Ali Rabiei said on Sunday addressing the 60th anniversary of NITC’s establishment.

He added the NITC’s fleet is capable of carrying more than 130 million tons of crude and oil byproducts.
http://www.shana.ir/en/newsagency/253566/Chinese-Bank-Keen-on-Funding-Iran-s-Shipping-Fleet

Iran reveals its fleet expansion shopping list

Saeidi: Suggests that relationships with China and Chinese banks will allow IRISL to place favourable orders at Chinese yards.

Newbuildings to be financed through funds said to exceed $120bn frozen internationally due to sanctions
http://www.irisl.net/module/News/Shownews/page-26575/index.aspx?NewsId=3033




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garg_bharat

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It is very important to connect Asian countries through rail, as it provides efficient trade, better than sea in many cases.

Rail makes hinterland cities develop. Over-reliance on coastal cities is a problem.
 

sasum

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It is very important to connect Asian countries through rail, as it provides efficient trade, better than sea in many cases.

Rail makes hinterland cities develop. Over-reliance on coastal cities is a problem.
For India though, it is not a good idea. All SAARC nations have bad vibes with India, except Bhutan..especially troublesome will be the usual cuprits, Pak, Bangla, Lanka.
 

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Now it happens ~ First container train links China to Middle East

Source:Xinhua Published: 2016-1-28 17:42:30

A container train linking China and Iran departed from Yiwu City in east China's Zhejiang Province loaded with Chinese small commodities on Thursday morning.

According to the train's operator, Yiwu Tianmeng industry investment company, it is the first regular container train linking China to the Middle East.

The train will exit China through Alataw Pass in Xinjiang, the westmost Chinese region, and pass through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan before reaching its destination Tehran.

Company president Feng Xubin said it will take the train 14 days to complete the 10,399 kilometers journey.

Catering to the Belt and Road Initiative, the train is expected to further promote China's cooperation with Middle Eastern countries.

Yiwu is a famous production base for small commodities and it has been keeping close foreign trade ties with countries in the Middle East.

There are currently about 4,000 Middle Eastern businessmen living in Yiwu and more than 180 companies set up by Middle Eastern investors. The city witnessed 58.3 billion yuan (8.8 billion U. S. dollars) of exports to the Middle East in 2015.





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Please give source link for article and infographic.
 

amoy

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Please give source link for article and infographic.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/01/29/447871/Silk-Road-train-departs-China-for-Iran-/

China has flagged off its first direct freight train to Iran from the trading hub of Yiwu in what is seen as the groundbreaking initiative to get Beijing’s ambitious New Silk Road connectivity project off the ground.

The train that set off on Thursday is the first regular container train linking China to the Middle East. It will cover a journey of 10,399 km in its maiden journey to West Asia in14 days.

After leaving China through the northwestern province of Xinjiang, it will 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.

~Tapa talks: Orange is the new black.~
 

Razor

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http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/01/29/447871/Silk-Road-train-departs-China-for-Iran-/

China has flagged off its first direct freight train to Iran from the trading hub of Yiwu in what is seen as the groundbreaking initiative to get Beijing’s ambitious New Silk Road connectivity project off the ground.

The train that set off on Thursday is the first regular container train linking China to the Middle East. It will cover a journey of 10,399 km in its maiden journey to West Asia in14 days.

After leaving China through the northwestern province of Xinjiang, it will 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.

~Tapa talks: Orange is the new black.~
That's okay.
@amoy In post #8 you said the source is Xinhua, now you are giving iranian source. Also what is the source of that infographic.
Thanks.
 

amoy

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That's okay.
@amoy In post #8 you said the source is Xinhua, now you are giving iranian source. Also what is the source of that infographic.
Thanks.
Search at random multiple links point to the subject.

Xinhua as u prefer: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-01/28/c_135054169.htm

Infographic: At my second thought the roadmap cited is incorrect, since the report indicates the cargo train runs through China-Kazakh-Turkmen-Iran only, no other countries en route.

Many more photoes on Chinese websites: http://www.guancha.cn/Third-World/2016_01_28_349637_1.shtml

A correct route -Chinese source Takungpao Hong Kong - http://news.takungpao.com/world/exclusive/2016-02/3279281.html clearly bypassing Uzbek and others
 

Razor

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amoy

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Video: First 'Silk Road' train arrives in Tehran from China

First train from China to Iran stimulates Silk Road revival


The first train to connect China and Iran arrived in Tehran, loaded with Chinese goods, reviving the ancient Silk Road, Iranian media reported. The train carried 32 containers of commercial goods from eastern Zhejiang province to Kazakstan, Turkmenistan and finally entered Iran through the border town of Sarakhs, Fars news agency said. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

TEHRAN, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- First cargo train from China to Iran arrived in Tehran on Monday, indicating a milestone in reviving the "Silk Road," which has opened a new chapter of win-win cooperation between China and Iran.

The train, also referred to as Silk Road train, has passed through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to Iran, travelling a distance of 10,399 kilometers. It had left Yiwu city in east China's Zhejiang Province on January 28.

This train was carrying dozens of cargo containers, according to the deputy of Iran's Road and Urbanism Minister, Mohsen Pour-Aqaei, who made a welcome speech after the arrival of the cargo train at Tehran Train Station on Monday.

As known to all, ancient Silk Road trade route had served as an important bridge for East-West trade and brought a close link between the Chinese and Persian civilizations.

The "Belt and Road" initiative was raised by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, which refers to the New Silk Road Economic Belt, linking China with Europe through Central and Western Asia, and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, connecting China with Southeast Asian countries, Africa and Europe.

"To revive the Silk Road Economic Belt, the launch of the train is an important move, since about 700 kilometers of trip has been done per day," said Pour-Aqaei, who was present at the welcome ceremony of the train in Tehran's Railway Station.


Honored guests unveil the first regular container train linking China to the Middle East in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 28, 2016. The train will exit China through Alataw Pass in northwest China's Xinjiang and pass through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan before reaching its destination Tehran, capital of Iran, completing a 14-day and 10,399-kilometer journey. (Xinhua Photo)

"Compared to the sea voyage of the cargo ships from China's Shanghai city to Iran's Bandar Abbas port city, the travel time of the train was 30 days shorter," he said.

Pour-Aqaei, also the Managing Director of Iran's Railway Company, added that according to the plan, there would be one such a trip from China to Iran every month.

The travel of cargo train from China to Iran is part of a Chinese initiative to revive the ancient Silk Road used by the traders to commute between Europe and East Asia.

Tehran will not be the final destination of these kinds of trains from China, the Iranian deputy minister said, adding that in the future, the train will reach Europe.

This will benefit Iran as the transit course for the cargo trains from the east Asia to Europe, he said.

Chinese ambassador to Iran Pang Sen told Xinhua that as one of the cooperation projects after Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Iran, the cargo train is playing a important role to promote construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative.

Meanwhile, the railway line from Yiwu to Tehran provides the two countries an express and efficient cargo trade transportation method, Pang said, adding that the countries along the railway line will furthur upgrade rail technology with the aim to make its transportation ability faster and better.
 

garg_bharat

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For India though, it is not a good idea. All SAARC nations have bad vibes with India, except Bhutan..especially troublesome will be the usual cuprits, Pak, Bangla, Lanka.
No. India should trade through SAARC nations, both road and rail. I do not agree with your assessment.

I would prefer to trade with Myanmar, and with Thailand through Myanmar.

I also want to see overland rail links between China and India. It will happen.
 

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