8Tashkent State Transport University Google Scholar indexed
Volume 3 | TSTU Conference 1 | 2022 Prospects for Training International Specialists in the Field of Transport
DOI: 10.24412/2181-1385-2022-1-18-20
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CAUCASUS-ASIAN COUNTRIES: TRANSPORT PROSPECTS
Gunduz Qurbanali Suleymanov
Ph.D in philosophy, Institute of Philosophy of Azerbaijan, National Academy of Sciences gunduzxs@yahoo .com
People's Republic of China announced a new economic development strategy "The Belt and Road Initiative" mostly known as "One Belt, One Road" in 2013. The strategy provides for two main directions of a development: "Silk Road Economic Belt" and "21st Century Maritime Silk Road". The aim of this project creating a trade corridor for direct transportation of goods on preferential terms from East to West. Although the idea was put forward in 2010, it was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in the end of 2013 during his visit to Central Asia and Indonesia. China included the implementation of the "One Belt, One Road" concept in its socioeconomic development plan in 2015 as an important issue, and this project is considered one of the key parts of the 13th Five-Year Plan for 2016-2020 (1, p. 73). To implement this project, a practical document was prepared in five areas for cooperation: political coordination, infrastructure interconnection, uninterrupted trade, free movement of capital and strengthening ties between peoples.
The ancient Silk Road based on experiences showed that with the help of certain transit routes it is possible to transport local products from one end to the other with minimal additional costs for transportation. It should be noted that Azerbaijan became the first country supported for this initiative, launched by China "One Belt, One Road" in the Caucasus region. From this point of view, Azerbaijan plays a key role in the logistics center, hub and place in the implementation of this strategy. It is well known that the national leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, carried out targeted and complex measures to restore the idea of the "Historical Silk Road" from a dream turned into reality. As a result of the implementation of this huge project, the geostrategic and geopolitical significance of our country has grown, and Azerbaijan has become one of the countries with the most favorable transit value, playing a strategic role between the East and the Wast. An important stage in the restoration of the "Historical Silk Road" began with a conference held in Brussels by EU on May 3-7, 1993. And the most important step on the way to the creation of the "New Silk Road" was a meeting of the heads of
9 states - Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan,
April 21-22
Tashkent State Transport University
Google Scholar indexed
DOI: 10.24412/2181-1385-2022-1-18-20
Volume 3 | TSTU Conference 1 | 2022 Prospects for Training International
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Moldova, Romania, Turkey, Bulgaria; 13 international organizations and members of 32 countries on September, 1998, at the International Conference on the Restoration of the "Historical Silk Road" (2, p. 147).
Modern Azerbaijan is becoming an increasingly important transit center by providing transportation and exchange of goods between China, Central Asia and Europe through the Alat International Seaport. Azerbaijani model of New Silk Road, as an alternative overland route, creates a special opportunity to connect East-West and West-East routes, as well as a new North-South transport corridor that combines products from East and South Asia. It should be noted that the new port in Alat near the capital of Azerbaijan Republic Baku - is a transport hub connecting the country with the West, South and North. In addition, the area where the new port is located intersects with existing roads and railways connecting the interior of the country. This new port covers an area of 1000 hectares and currently has a capacity of 15 million cargoes and 100000 containers. In the future, these indexes are expected to increase to 25 million tons, as well as up to 500,000 containers. Through the port of Baku, Azerbaijan acts as a "Middle Corridor" in the "One Belt, One Road" global transport network initiated by China. The duration of logistics from China to Europe came in 25-30 days, but through the "Middle Corridor" this period was reduced to 15-17 days
(3).
Basically, all this avatages became possible due to significant investments in the transport infrastructure of Azerbaijan. It should be noted that in recent years a new road with a length of 6835 miles has been built, about 300 bridges have been laid, the main roads with Georgia, Russia, Iran, etc. have been restored and expanded.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which provides the shortest railway connection between Europe and Asia, opens up new socio-economic opportunities not only for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, but also for countries in the Eurasian region as a whole. China, as the world's largest exporter and second largest importer, is also showing great interest in this railway. In addition, this railway will increase efficiency in the "One Belt, One Road" strategy.
Thus, China through Azerbaijan, gets a faster accesses to Europe. And for Azerbaijan, this project is very important in terms of increasing the capacity of international cargo transportation. And in recent years, within the framework of the East-West and North-South transport corridor, there has been an increase in the volume of international cargo transportation carried out through Azerbaijan. Approximately 90 percent of goods entering the country are transported in transit to other countries.
April 21-22
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Tashkent State Transport University Google Scholar indexed
Volume 3 | TSTU Conference 1 | 2022 Prospects for Training International Specialists in the Field of Transport
DOI: 10.24412/2181-1385-2022-1-18-20
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On issues related to the revival of the "Great Silk Road", Azerbaijan constantly supports all the initiatives of Asian countries, including Uzbekistan. In recent years, convenient and safe international transport corridors have been created in Uzbekistan with the use of all communications. This ensures cooperation in the region and the development of relations between peoples, contributes to the strengthening of political, economic and cultural partnership, and an increase in trade turnover.
REFERENCES
1. Ibrahimova I. Sh. Новый Шелковый Путь. The Sustainable development of economy and administration: problems and perspectives. I International scientific and practical conference. Baku Engineering University, 26-27 october 2018. Baku, Azerbaijan, 404 pages.
2. tsakov H.V. Azsrbaycan Respublikasmm "Boyuk ipsk yolu"nun bsrpasmda i§tiraki (1991-2005-ci ilbr). Baki, "§3rq-Qsrb" №§riyyat evi, 2011, 284 ssh.
3. https://newsblaze.com/
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