On July 8, in Beijing, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) Rovshan Rustamov met with President of China Railway State Corporation Song Shuyou. The parties confirmed the strategic importance of partnership in transit transportation, multimodal solutions and digitalization of processes. An important element of the dialogue was the development of the Middle Corridor, which Azerbaijan views as a key link between the East and the West.
In 2024, the volume of transportation between China and Azerbaijan increased by 47% to 612 thousand tons, with 287 block trains accepted. In the first half of 2025, this figure has already reached 199 trains, and by the end of the year, over 400 are expected. The meeting resulted in the signing of a memorandum on the development of transit transportation, joint digital projects and multimodal solutions, as well as on expanding the participation of Chinese partners in the Middle Corridor Multimodal.
During the visit, Rustamov also held talks with the head of Kazakhstan Railways Talgat Aldybergenov, discussing the coordination of cargo transportation between China and Europe. In addition, the ADY delegation took part in the 12th International Congress on High-Speed Rail in Beijing, where they discussed sustainable development, innovation and the role of high-speed transportation in the global economy.