Kars, a city in eastern Turkey that was once famous on the ancient Silk Road, is ushering in new development opportunities. Kars Mayor Ertiken Schengel said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency recently that the city will actively participate in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and rely on the China-Europe Express South Corridor to build an influential regional logistics hub.

Kars is located in eastern Turkey and is known as the "historical and cultural treasure of Eastern Turkey", where diverse cultures blend. Its prime location makes it Turkey's gateway to the Caucasus and an essential stop for Eastern Anatolia to the Black Sea region. Mayor Schengel said that as a key city along the "Middle Corridor", Karls will make an important contribution to Turkish-Chinese railway transport cooperation.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line, which opened in 2017, is an important part of the "Middle Corridor" plan, and this multinational railway line will be upgraded and expanded in 2024, significantly increasing freight capacity. At present, the line has become the only way for the southern corridor of the China-Europe Express, bringing new development opportunities to Kars.

"As the first station connecting the southern corridor of the China-Europe Express with the Turkish railway network, Kars has ushered in new opportunities for development." Schengel said that in the future, investment and modernization of railway infrastructure will be increased to improve transportation efficiency and speed. At the same time, Karls plans to establish an industrial ecosystem based on rail transportation, strengthen urban infrastructure construction, and support local companies to expand into the global market.

To attract Chinese investment, Karls will simplify the foreign investment process and provide a fairer and more transparent business environment. Schengel also said that Kars will cooperate with local governments in Chinese to attract more Chinese tourists with its "Silk Road City" historical and cultural heritage, natural landscapes and special cuisine.

"China's development model has important reference value for Karls." Schinger emphasized that the Belt and Road Initiative has brought opportunities for Karls to invest in advanced infrastructure, which will drive the growth of international trade and make Karls occupy a more strategic position on the global trade map.(This article is from the official website of Jiandao www.seetao.com it must not be reprinted without permission, otherwise it will be investigated, please indicate the reprint of Jiandao Network + original link) See the editor of the China-Europe train column of Jiandao Network/Gao Xue