Trans-Caspian International Transport Route opens up new opportunities for full-scale trade and investment cooperation between Asia and Europe, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu said at the Forum of Foreign Affairs Ministers of Central Asia and the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Ashgabat, Kazinform News Agency reports.

According to Minister Nurtleu, Central Asia has a unique opportunity to link distant markets and become a ‘land bridge’ along the East-West and North-South transportation corridors.

He went on to highlight the role of the international industrial cooperation center on the Kazakh-Uzbek border in that respect, adding that analogous center will commence its work on the border with Kyrgyzstan in the near future.

The Kazakh Foreign Minister also underscored that Kazakhstan welcomes expanded cooperation with its European partners as part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).

The Middle Corridor and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route open up new opportunities for full-scale trade and investment cooperation between Asia and Europe, said Nurtleu, adding Kazakhstan and its foreign partners prioritize the development of the corridor.