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Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the first train to transport goods from Turkey to China set off from Istanbul.

The export train, passing through Marmaray and reaching China via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line and the East-West Middle Corridor with Caspian Pass, will travel 8 thousand 693 kilometers. Crossing 2 continents, 2 seas and 5 countries, and  delivering its cargo to China in 12 days, it will continue to travel across Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to arrive China’s Xi’an province. During the sendoff ceremony at Kazlıçeşme train station, Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu proclaimed “The first whistle in Çerkezköy, where the train departed from, is a herald of a new era for our country,”

The first train that had set out from China, passed through Turkey’s “Trans-Caspian Middle East-West Corridor” and the “Marmaray” out to Europe in November 2019, had reached Prague. This time, the 1st train setting off  towards China and carrying export goods  has started its journey from Turkey; Turk officials emphasized.

A supportive statement by another official  unfolds the future objectives: “Our country will continue to take the necessary steps in the field of transportation in order to improve the connectivity between East and West and to reinforce its central position in its region.”

Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM) Chairperson said in his speech at the ceremony that “Today, for the first time, our train that is full of export products is heading to China.”

Gülle stated “This process is very crucial for the future vision of Turkey’s exports.”

On the basis of cooperation between Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan within the scope of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line established a freight and passenger link between Europe and China and was launched in October 2017.

Considering the implementation of the initiative, by providing the shortest railway link between Europe and Asia, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line plays a crucial role.