Nazarbayev speaks about Caspian logistics potential

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev spoke about transportation opportunities the Caspian Sea had to offer during the 4th Caspian Summit, Tengrinews correspondent reports from Astrakhan, Russia.

"I believe an important achievement of the summit today is the harmonization of the principle of free access from the Caspian Sea to other seas and the World Ocean based on universally recognized norms and principles of the international law," the President of Kazakhstan said on September 29.

He noted that Kazakhstan had developed a substantial transportation network. For example, Kazakhstan is part of the International North–South Transport Corridor, which literally connects Asia and Europe. In addition there is a route connecting Lianyungang port in China to Khorgos and to the Kazakh port of Aktau at the Caspian Sea.

This year, Turkmenistan and Iran are to finally connect the railroad stretching from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to the Persian Gulf. Nearing completion is the road corridor Western Europe - Western China.

"Naturally, Russian trade routes are connected to these routes. We are creating all the necessary conditions to transform our country into the largest Eurasian business transit hub. Given the opening of the (new) routes through Kazakhstan, we suggest using them as a transit bridge to deliver goods from the Caspian states to other countries' markets, primarily China and the Pacific. To this end, our governments may consider entering into an intergovernmental agreement. In our view, this will bring mutual benefit to all the participants," he said.

The Kazakhstan President also said that along with the transportation infrastructure, tourism infrastructure of the Caspian countries bade well for tourism in the region.

He reminded that while exploring ways of benefiting from the Caspian Sea and its reserves the coastal countries had to prioritise preservation of the sea's eco balance and biodiversity.

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transport Central Asia CIS Kazakh Kazakhstan news Nursultan Nazarbayev Russia summit Caspian Sea