Tuesday August 30, 2016
Kabul (BNA) For the first time in the course of Afghan-China relations a special transportation railway aimed at direct transferring of commercial goods from China to Afghanistan and vice versa exports from Afghanistan to China was opened in the Himen city in Xiangsoi province with the presence of Afghan and Chinese ambassadors.
It would play important role in removal of transit problems and reduction of goods’ prices. Talking on this issue, the spokesman of the MoCI Musafer Qoqandi said, this project provides many facilities in imports-exports fields as connecting of Afghanistan to the regional countries through railways was one of the priorities of the Afghan government. This railway for sure is very important for regional convergence. It reduces transit costs and goods prices and clearly is in the benefit of Afghanistan economy. The first convoy loaded with 84 containers of commercial consignment moved from Chinese city of Nantung Xiangsoi state on the eastern China, passing over Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan arrives in Hairatan port, Afghanistan. This economic development Afghan-China program under the name of “One belt, one way” was started in 2013 by the Chinese president.
Calling valuable opening of railways and connection of Afghanistan to regional countries, Afghan experts ask the Afghan government to focus essential attention for their security. Afghan economist Abdullah Wahedyar said, it is a vital and important issue to Afghanistan as it should provide security of railways and traders. Saifuddin Saihoon a lecturer at the faculty of economics, Kabul University said construction of railway and connection of Afghanistan to the world railway networks was one of the old dreams of our people. I appreciate the first consignment of this railway and interpret it in our people interests. I ask the government to provide security of railways. Recently the Spinboldak road was closed that inflicted huge financial damages to Afghan traders.
This railway starts operation at a time that the Afghan traders have always been complaining about restricted trade-transit facilities via Pakistan and Iran and asked the government authorities concerned to settle it. The Afghan MoCI said that the Afghan government is working on a program for removal of transit problems and connection with regional countries of Tajikistan, Iran and China. This railway will transport Afghan export commodities including Marble, Saffron, dried fruits etc… to China. This railway was constructed by an Afghan-Chinese company and according to Afghan ambassador to China, Janan Musazai it would create new opportunities between the two sides.
Shukria Kohistani
