Tehran, December 6 (MRUD NEWS)—The meeting of the Iran, Uzbekistan Transport and Transit Committee chaired by Iran Deputy Tansport Minister, Shahriar Afandizadeh, and the First Deputy Transport Minister of Uzbekistan, Mamanbiy Omarov, was held online on December 4 with the presence of the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Uzbekistan and all the transport departments of the two countries in order to confer on promoting transport and transit cooperation  as per the 'Iran, Uzbekistan comprehensive transport and transit MoU' which was signed in June in the presence of the Presidents two countries.  

Iran is actively advancing the transport corridor from China to Europe through Iran's territory which was discussed in the summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member countries in Uzbekistan and the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek. To this end, the parties initially decided to plan necessary coordination for a trial test of cargo through this route. 

Among the agendas, the necessity of beginning the tripartite negotiations to finalize the trilateral intergovernmental agreement between Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran was discussed in this meeting.

Iran Deputy Transport Minister said: "trilateral cooperation of Iran, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan make a significant change in the transit and regional ties along the North-South and East-West corridors, and technical meetings in this regard will be held soon".

Last month, Iran Deputy Transport Minister, Shayriar Afandizadeh, attended the summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member countries in Uzbekistan when the role of member countries in completing the East-West Corridor was discussed.

Similarly, during the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in Bishkek in October, the launch of Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran Railway Corridor was discussed. 

Additionally, in this meeting, the two sides discussed the solutions for the development of the transport corridors of "China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey" and the transport corridor of "Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, India" as well as the international transport corridor of "Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran".

In this meeting, the two sides exchanged views on road cooperation and the necessity of reducing the tariffs for trucks in the territory of the two countries and agreed to reduce the costs as soon as possible by reviewing and comparing road costs in each country. 

Moreover, the two sides also agreed on the necessity of developing cooperation between Uzbekistan and Iran in air transport and air navigation, as well as increasing the number of weekly flights up to the previously agreement. 

Further, development of rail transport and possibility of transit of Iran's rail fleet to the territory of Uzbekistan, as well as the necessity of applying mutual tariff discounts in the rail sector were among the other issues that the parties discussed.

In the end, Affandizadeh expressed hope that with the upcoming visit of the Minister of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ilkhom Makhkamov, to Iran and his visit to the infrastructures and his meeting with Iran Minister of Roads and Urban Development, would open a new chapter for the promotion of transport cooperation between the two countries.