The once thriving Silk Road is regaining its place as a hub for China to enhance transportation cooperation with countries in central Asia.

"We have made transportation cooperation the priority on the agenda," said Feng Zhenglin, Chinese vice minister of communications, here Thursday.

China is to host the Third International Silk Road Conference in October of 2004 in Xi'an, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, said Feng.

After announcing the conference, Feng told the press that transportation cooperation could bring prosperity to the region as the ancient commercial route across Eurasia did centuries ago.

Currently, China has already inked a number of transport pacts with central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

China has set up a special committee pertaining to transport cooperation with Kazakhstan and formed a meeting mechanism of transport ministers among member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

"The development of transport cooperation between China and central Asian countries will further consolidate and develop ties among the relevant nations and promote the socio-economic development in the region," Feng said.

According to Feng, China is negotiating with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on road construction and planning to build a road linking China with Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Iran.

China has already opened a port to Kazakhstan, two to Kyrgyzstan and launched 47 international cargo transport routes toKazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. China is yet to open direct auto transport route to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Source: Xinhua