Strategic Cooperation on Transport Corridors between Iran and China
In a recent meeting between the Chairman of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce’s Transport Commission and the President of the Khorgos International Chamber of Commerce of China, the primary focus of discussions was the transformation of Iran into a strategic hub within international corridor networks and the facilitation of bilateral trade through the establishment of a “Joint Transport Corridor.” The fundamental objective of this meeting was to move beyond general discussions and enter an operational phase, maximizing the potential of the Khorgos region to establish Iran as a distribution center for goods between China, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe.
In this regard, Peyman Sanandaji, Chairman of the Transport Commission of the Tehran Chamber, proposed a four-fold strategy consisting of: designing a sustainable and economical model for cargo transport, implementing pilot projects, exchanging logistical information, and creating a mechanism for resolving operational disputes. On the other hand, the President of the Khorgos Chamber, referencing the “Belt and Road Initiative,” emphasized the necessity of coordinating customs formalities, tariffs, and transit procedures among the transit countries, expressing full readiness to operationalize these collaborations.
Furthermore, experts emphasized the need to precisely identify operational bottlenecks through field studies and the formation of specialized committees. The utilization of the “TIR Convention” was also proposed as a key tool for facilitating road transport, with a recommendation for China to pursue the necessary negotiations with transit countries, particularly Kazakhstan, to ensure a smoother route. Finally, the meeting concluded with an agreement to draft a “Joint Memorandum of Understanding” (MoU) to formalize these axes and pave the way for the operational implementation of logistics and transit projects between Iran and China.
