LONDON, July 4 (Xinhua) -- A high-level roundtable held Wednesday at Britain's House of Lords brought renewed attention to the growing relevance of the Middle Corridor, an emerging overland trade route connecting China to Europe via Central Asia and the South Caucasus, amid regional instability and mounting pressure on global supply chains.
The event, titled "Middle Corridor: Strategic Investment and Cooperation Opportunities", gathered British policymakers, trade envoys, logistics experts and academics to examine how the corridor, officially known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, is increasingly seen as a practical alternative to the northern corridor through Russia.
Stretching westward from China through Kazakhstan, crossing the Caspian Sea, and continuing via Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye, the corridor provides a land-based passage into Europe.
A report released by the World Bank projects that trade volumes along the route could more than triple to 11 million tonnes by 2030, provided that infrastructure investment and customs coordination are improved.
At Horgos, a major border port on the China-Kazakhstan frontier, Chinese customs data show an average of 26 China–Europe freight trains pass through daily, with a growing share of services now operating along the Middle Corridor.
Addressing the roundtable, Lord Alderdice, the UK's Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia, described the Middle Corridor as "a faster, more efficient, and more sustainable trade option." He said British expertise in finance, infrastructure and logistics could support the route's development in coordination with international partners, including the European Union (EU).
Afzal Khan, the UK's Trade Envoy to Türkiye, noted that the roundtable took place amid ongoing negotiations on an upgraded UK-Türkiye free trade agreement. He said the Middle Corridor offers a valuable platform to expand commercial ties with Türkiye and the broader Central Asian region, enhancing overall connectivity between Asia and Europe.
Participants also examined the corridor's strategic implications beyond logistics. Nick Coleman, senior editor for Oil News at S&P Global Commodity Insights, emphasized the rising importance of Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in contributing to Europe's energy security and regional stability. He said the corridor deserved further attention as a channel for both energy supply and geopolitical engagement.
From the logistics sector, Chris Brooks, global director at F.H. Bertling Logistics, noted that the corridor offered a practical safeguard against disruptions to maritime routes. However, he also pointed out technical limitations in transporting oversized cargo across segments such as the Caspian Sea.
Assylbek Nurgabdeshov, a scholar at Edinburgh Business School, presented research suggesting that trade volumes along the Middle Corridor could triple and transit times be halved by the end of the decade with targeted investment and operational reforms. He said the route has the potential to serve as "a catalyst for more resilient and diversified trade between Asia and Europe," adding that countries with expertise in logistics, digital systems and education could play a meaningful role in supporting this transformation.
While the EU has pledged 10 billion euros through its Global Gateway Initiative to support infrastructure along the corridor, speakers at the roundtable said broader international cooperation, including from Britain, would be essential to unlocking the route's full potential. The experts noted that investments in logistics hubs, cross-border railway connections and digital customs systems are already underway in countries such as Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, Arzu Abbasova, a research analyst at the Royal United Services Institute, underscored the need for realism and sustained engagement. "The Middle Corridor holds real promise, but there's a risk of getting swept up in the headlines and missing the reality on the ground," she said, urging long-term commitment and close coordination with local partners.
As regional dynamics continue to evolve, stakeholders at the meeting noted that the Middle Corridor represents not only a response to short-term logistical challenges, but also a long-term opportunity to foster connectivity and economic integration across Eurasia.
(Contributed by Zhao Xiaona in London, edited by Li Shimeng with Xinhua Silk Road, lishimeng@xinhua.org)
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