BAKU, September 9
A new joint venture uniting the railways of China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia is set to streamline procedures and improve service quality along the Middle Corridor, a key trade route linking East and West.
Speaking at the Black Sea–Caspian Logistics Forum 2025 in Baku, Wanxu Dong, chairman of Beijing Trans Eurasia International Logistics, said to Report, that the initiative could prove pivotal in transforming the corridor into a competitive alternative for Eurasian freight.
“As participants in the Middle Corridor, we must have confidence that we can restore and expand this route,” Dong said.
“The answer is clear: infrastructure development, construction, and effective coordination. On the northern routes, UTOC coordinates border issues, documentation, and SMGS rules. We need a similar structure here. The joint venture between the railways of China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia is expected to achieve precisely that.”
Dong emphasized that expanding freight traffic and optimizing logistics services are among the most pressing tasks for the region.
Bottlenecks and Delays
He pointed to several challenges along the Middle Corridor, including harsh weather, limited seasonal capacity, and slow documentation procedures.
“In August – October last year, transit time from Xi’an to Duisburg averaged 30 days,” he noted. “But in November, due to poor weather and congestion, waiting times at the port of Aktau alone reached 30 days. This results in lost clients. Without joint development of this corridor, it will be difficult to sustain China–Europe cargo flows.”
Analysts say the formation of the joint venture reflects growing recognition that the Middle Corridor – which bypasses Russia – can only succeed if infrastructure, customs, and rail operations are integrated more closely across participating states.
