Kazakhstan has urged the Netherlands and Belgium to collaborate in developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Roman Vasilenko, discussed this proposal during a meeting with the Ambassadors of Belgium and the Netherlands to Kazakhstan, Henri Vantieghem and Nico Schermers, respectively.
Highlighting the potential for enhanced trade and economic ties between Kazakhstan and Europe, Deputy FM Vasilenko emphasized the strategic significance of the Middle Corridor. This alternative route to the traditional Northern and Southern Corridors spans from China through Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, crossing the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye before reaching Europe. The Middle Corridor provides a crucial land connection between eastern Asia, particularly China, and Europe, offering a shorter alternative to maritime routes. The discussions also covered regional cooperation and Kazakhstan’s initiatives for environmental protection and water resources ahead of the VI Consultative Meeting of Central Asian heads of states in Astana later this year.