A large-scale Turkmen-Chinese business forum has opened in the building of the Chamber of commerce and industry of Turkmenistan. The event, which brought together approximately 400 delegates and 48 key speakers from both countries, provided a platform for discussing strategic prospects for economic cooperation.
One of the central events of the forum was the speech by the Minister of railway transport of Turkmenistan, M. Akmammedov, who presented a plan for transforming the transport system of the country and summarised the results of long-standing cooperation with China.
As part of the implementation of the concept of transforming Turkmenistan into a key multimodal hub, the Ministry of railway transport is initiating a large-scale infrastructure modernisation. The main emphasis is on the Ashgabat – Turkmenbashy line.
According to the plans of department, upgrading this section will take transportation to a fundamentally new level. Thus, the speed of passenger trains will increase to 160 km/h, and the speed of freight transport will reach 90 km/h. Traffic intensity will increase to 35 pairs of trains per day.
«The modernisation of the Ashgabat-Turkmenbashy and Ashgabat-Turkmenabat highways is intended to strengthen the position of the country as a link in the global corridors «China-Central Asia-Europe», as well as on the «East-West» and «North-South» routes», – the minister noted.
The head of the department emphasised that the partnership with Chinese railway equipment manufacturers has been successfully developing since 2005. During this period, the technical park of the country was significantly updated thanks to products of PRC. More than 180 freight, passenger and shunting locomotives and 423 diesel generator cars were purchased.
«The previously acquired diesel locomotives and carriages have proven their durability, reliability, and convenience over many years of operation in transporting passengers and freight», – stated M. Akmammedov.
Turkmenistan views railway industry of China as an advanced model for technological advancement. Leading Chinese companies are already putting forward proposals to create high-speed rail networks across the country.
«The active implementation of advanced Chinese technologies will not only improve the level of passenger service but also create a reliable and safe transit corridor in the region. This, in turn, will serve to strengthen international cooperation and transform Turkmenistan into the largest logistics hub on the Eurasian continent», – the speaker concluded.
