Translated with AI
As part of China's presidency of the SCO in 2025, the 12th meeting of transport ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states was held on July 2 in Tianjin, the largest port city in northern China. The delegation of the Republic of Tajikistan was headed by the country's Minister of Transport Azim Ibrohim, the press service of the department reported.
The theme of this year's meeting is "Global Sustainable Transport", reflecting countries' commitment to developing safe, digital and environmentally friendly transport systems.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Transport of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Liu Wei.
During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on joint actions to develop transport infrastructure and international logistics corridors, reduce barriers, implement digital solutions in the field of transportation and expand areas of cooperation within the SCO.
Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Transport of the Republic of Tajikistan Azim Ibrohim noted that today transport connectivity is becoming one of the main factors for sustainable economic growth, food security and strengthening relations between countries.
"The SCO space already plays the role of a strategic bridge between East and West, North and South. However, we are faced with new challenges – increasing the sustainability of transport chains, their digitalization, decarbonization and the development of green logistics solutions," he emphasized.
In this regard, the head of the Ministry of Transport spoke about the need to create a Single Digital Platform of the SCO for managing multimodal transportation. In his opinion, a single digital window will allow synchronizing customs, border and transport procedures, tracking the movement of goods in real time, simplifying document flow and increasing the transparency of transportation.
The Minister of Transport of Tajikistan also proposed to create a Competence Center for Transport Logistics in Dushanbe under the auspices of the SCO. According to him, such a center could become a platform for training qualified personnel, exchanging best practices in digitalization, sustainable transportation and the introduction of green technologies, and conducting joint research in the field of transport logistics.
In addition, the head of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Tatarstan proposed to intensify cooperation in the following areas:
DEVELOPMENT OF THE DRY PORT NETWORK IN THE SCO COUNTRIES
According to the Minister, in modern conditions, the development of a network of dry ports is becoming a strategically important element of transport infrastructure, will allow countries that do not have direct access to the sea to significantly increase the volume of foreign trade, reduce delivery times and reduce logistics costs.
Taking this into account, it was proposed to form a common Concept for the development of dry ports in the SCO space, to develop agreed standards for their technical equipment and mutual recognition of procedures, and to link dry ports with the main multimodal corridors, sea and river ports.
FORMATION OF SCO GREEN TRANSPORT CORRIDORS
Taking into account the use of electric and hydrogen transport, the creation of a charging infrastructure network, the implementation of energy-efficient solutions in logistics hubs and terminals.
SYNCHRONIZING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A JOINT STRATEGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCO TRANSPORT STRUCTURES UNTIL 2035 WITH NATIONAL TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
It is necessary to identify priority infrastructure projects and eliminate bottlenecks at borders and corridors.
INTENSIFICATION OF WORK ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORTATION
It was proposed to establish a permanent high-level Working Group to monitor and remove barriers, as well as launch pilot routes based on the Agreement between the governments of the SCO member states on creating favourable conditions for international road transport, signed in Dushanbe on 12 September 2014.
DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIMODAL CORRIDORS WITH ACCESS TO THE MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA AND EUROPE
In this context, the head of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Tatarstan considers it necessary to strengthen work on the development and connection of the following corridors:
– "China – Kyrgyzstan – Tajikistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan – Indian Ocean";
– "China – Tajikistan – Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran – Türkiye – Europe";
– Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR).
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN AFGHANISTAN
The Minister of Transport of the Republic of Tatarstan considers it important, with the support of international partners, to work on the issue of restoring and developing transport links with South Asia through Afghanistan, which will open up new trade routes for all countries in the region.
