The Parthian empire in Persia as well as China’s Han dynasty ensured optimal conditions for commerce and established many Caravanserais for the merchants at that time. The Silk Road appeared to link Far East Asia to the Europe through glorious Parthian Empire.
Iran's strategic geopolitics has been accounted for an important comparative advantage which grants the country special position for suitable transportation. During past decades with the priority of the communication and trade this advantage has gained more significance.
Iran is one of the major neighboring countries of Persian Golf littoral states, one of the world’s most strategic regions, which provides the biggest part of the world hydrocarbon fuel production.
The country could also account for the most economical way for Caspian Sea's rich oilfields to reach the global markets and it did not already lose its importance.
In addition, Islamic Republic is placed in the middle of several less developed countries, which are on the beginning of their way to all-out development. These countries’ virgin markets have caught the investors’ eyes.
Despite all these fruitful opportunities, which mostly appear to be aroused after the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991, and can identify Iran as a corridor for long distance transition of goods from east Asia to Europe and central Asia to the free seas, it seems that the decision-makers had not taken it for granted.
But Iranian road minister Khorram's trip was a light at the end of the tunnel and a sign for more deliberate feature of Iran’s cooperation with other countries to promote transitional ways across the country.
To promote the case, the Islamic Republic proposed Iran-China cooperation in establishment of a rail road between Iran and China through Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, a rail way which perceived to link the two countries with Iraq, Syria, and the Mediterranean coast.
The bid was presented by Iranian Road and Transport Minister Ahmad Khorram in a meeting with Chinese Minister of Communication Chunxian Zhang and Minister of Railway in the third day of his four-day trip to China on Monday November 10.
Khorram inked in Shanghai several agreements on road and transportation cooperation with some Chinese companies, which stipulate for Chinese firms SMEBI, THEIDI and SCG to participate in road, bridge, airport, and highway construction projects with Iran.
With regard to the existing various fields of regional and international cooperation for Iran and China, the trip was a good start for the state-run companies and private investors in China to participate in the fields.
The analysts believe that Iran and China as a linking chain of transit routes of Asia and Europe can play a key role in international and regional trade network.
RN/IS
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MNA
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