DUSHANBE, October 28, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Ministers of transport of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Afghanistan and Iran have gathered in Dushanbe for a two-day pentalateral meeting that is opening here today, Farid Yoqubzod, the head of the department for international cooperation within the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC), told Asia-Plus today morning.

According to him, the sides are expected to discuss issues related to development of transport service between the countries and creation of transport corridors.

We will recall that Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Afghanistan and Iran plan to construct a new railway link connecting them.

According to a MoTC, a total length of this railroad that will run from China (Kashgar) via Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan (Herat) is expected to be 1,972 kilometers in length.  The Tajik section of this road that will run from Kyrgyz border to Nizhny Panj in Khatlon province will be 296 kilometers in length.

This railroad is aimed at boosting trade, increasing exports, and easing transit costs in the region, as well as expanding passenger traffic.