Turkmenistan, Iran negotiating increase in railway freight transportation

ASHGABAT. Sept 10 (Interfax) - Expanding cooperation in the railway sector was discussed during a working visit to Iran by a Turkmen delegation headed by Railway Transport Minister Mammet Akmannepesov, the Turkmen Foreign Affairs Ministry said on its website.

During the visit, meetings were held with Iranian Roads and Urban Development Minister Farzaneh Sadegh and his deputy and the head of the Railway Administration, Jabbarali Zakery.

The Turkmen delegation also familiarized itself with the operation of the wagon management center and the potential of the dry port Aprin in Tehran.

The intensification of trade and economic cooperation between Turkmenistan and Iran in the railway sector was discussed during the meetings.

In particular, proposals were made to increase the turnover of transit cargo. In this regard, intensifying the activities of the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway and the international corridor of the Ashgabat Agreement (Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Oman) was discussed.

The parties agreed to expand cooperation in the railway sector to increase trade turnover between member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), as well as to ensure cargo transportation and the effective use of the Armenia-Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan transit and transport corridor.

The parties visited the Akyaila-Incheburun railway crossing and familiarized themselves with the progress of the work being carried out there.