BEIJING: A direct freight train link between Afghanistan and China was inaugurated on Thursday, marking a significant step in trade relations between the two nations, Taliban’s embassy in Beijing announced.
The Taliban’s ambassador to China, Bilal Karimi, stated that the freight train will depart from China’s Jiangsu Province, bound for Hairatan port in northern Afghanistan. Chinese officials, including Yue Xiaoyong, Beijing’s special envoy to Afghanistan, attended the inauguration ceremony.
The initial shipment comprises 50 containers of commercial goods, with the journey to Hairatan expected to take around 20 days. Karimi highlighted the importance of the Wakhan Corridor, a strategic route connecting China and Tajikistan, for future trade and economic integration.
The rail project is part of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative, aimed at enhancing infrastructure and trade networks across Asia. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, China has maintained economic engagement, securing contracts for mining and infrastructure projects with the Taliban-led administration.
Despite this new trade route, Afghan traders have voiced concerns over the high tariffs imposed by the Taliban on imported goods. In response, China recently announced zero tariffs on Afghan exports, aiming to boost trade and support Afghanistan’s economy.
