KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — Chinese and Taliban officials have announced the resumption of direct freight train services between China and Afghanistan.
Yue Xiaoyong, China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, shared the news in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying this development is a significant step toward enhancing trade relations.
According to Yue, a freight train departed from Nantong in China’s Jiangsu Province known as a hub for the Belt and Road Initiative, this morning, carrying 55 big wagons destined for Afghanistan.
The Taliban embassy in Beijing confirmed that the train is transporting containers of electrical equipment, clothing, and various other products. These shipments are expected to reach Afghanistan’s Hairatan port in approximately 20 days.
Bilal Karimi, the Taliban’s ambassador in Beijing, described the freight route from Nantong as a “significant and positive” step, highlighting Nantong’s role as a key economic gateway.
The railway connection between China and Afghanistan, first established in 2016, links Afghanistan to China through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, creating a direct route for trade and facilitating the movement of goods between the two nations.
