- ADY and China Railway signed an MoU to enhance transit and digital rail logistics.
- The deal supports the Middle Corridor route, linking East-West trade.
- Rail freight between China and Azerbaijan rose 47% in 2024.
CJSC "Azerbaijan Railways" (ADY) and the Chinese state enterprise "China Railway" (CR) have inked a memorandum of understanding focused on enhancing transit, digital innovation, and the development of multimodal transport across the Middle Corridor.
The MOU was finalized in a conference in Beijing involving ADY Chairman Rovshan Rustamov and CR President Song Xiude, during an Azerbaijani delegation's visit to China, Caliber. Az reports according to ADY.
The memorandum details initiatives to bolster collaboration in railway transport, enhance freight logistics via international corridors, and adopt advanced digital technologies to improve service quality and operational effectiveness. A key aspect of the agreement is the continued advancement of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, referred to as the Middle Corridor, which Azerbaijan considers an essential connection for East-West trade.
The parties also concurred on the strategic significance of incorporating multimodal transport infrastructure, especially in linking logistics terminals in China and Azerbaijan. An important element of the document is the suggested participation of China Railway Container Transport Corp. Ltd. (CRCT) in the partnership "Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd.," created by the railway agencies of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia to promote the Middle Corridor project.
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ADY emphasized that rail freight traffic between China and Azerbaijan increased by 47% in 2024, totaling 612,000 tons. Last year, 287 block trains were sent from China, and in the first half of 2025, 199 have already been dispatched. Forecasts suggest that more than 400 block trains will be sent out by the end of the year.
Rustamov conducted discussions with Talgat Aldybergenov, the head of Kazakhstan Railways (Kazakhstan Temir Zholy), while visiting. Both parties reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing collaboration in transit logistics and highlighted joint efforts to guarantee the effective transportation of container cargo from China to Europe.
They concurred that the "Middle Corridor Multimodal" project would be crucial for guaranteeing the seamless and prompt transit of goods along the path. The discussions highlighted the larger framework of strengthening strategic ties among Azerbaijan, China, and neighboring partners via improved transport and logistics collaboration.