Turkey-China railroad will cross Kazakhstan

Participants of the 2nd Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (CCTS) have agreed to construct a railroad from Turkey to China via Kazakhstan, Tengrinews.kz reports from Bishkek. Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev said that special attention was given to economic cooperation of the CCTS countries, where transport communications between the states are of the huge importance. The participants of the meeting decided to construct a railroad connecting Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and China. The meeting included signing of several documents: an agreement on financing of the CCTS Secretariat, agreement on creation of the Turkic Academy Fund and the Fund of the Turkic Culture and Heritage. “Creation of the Turkic Academy and the Cultural Heritage Fund certifies that we want to jointly study the history and language to bring our young people closer and to learn our common heritage to bring the “Turkic World” term into being. I think we have performed an important work in these direction," Nazarbayev added. Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey and Prime-Minister of Azerbaijan also signed the Bishkek Declaration. CCTS Secretary General Halil Akinci said that the parties had found many compromises during the meeting. That allowed to sign a range of important documents for the Council. He added that the next CCST Summit will be held in Azerbaijan in 2013. By Dmitriy Khegai