The head of Iran Railways Abdol Ali Saheb Mohammadi said that both sides are for speeding up construction of railway Chabahar-Haf-Mazar-i-Sharif. He said that the Uzbek side takes obligation to speed up railway to China and after its implementation, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and China will be linked with railway.

He said that the Uzbek side is interested in studying experience of Iran in electrification of railways and construction of railway locomotives.

Abdol Ali Saheb Mohammadi said that representatives of Uzbekistan will visit locomotive construction plants. The sides also agreed to increase transit of the Uzbek cotton through territory of Iran, he added.

He said that Iran wants to participate in activities of the CIS structures as observer and the Uzbek side wants to support Iran on this issue, ISNA reported.

Chairperson of the board of Uzbekistan Temir Yollari (Uzbekistan Railways) Achilbay Ramatov said at the meeting with Abdol Ali Saheb Mohammadi that Uzbekistan will invest over US$4 billion to railway infrastructure by 2015, Irib News reported.

According to Ramatov, currently, Uzbekistan is constructing 230 km of railway, which will link Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

Ramatov stated that last year, 2.5 million tonnes of freight were delivered to Afghanistan in 2011 and the figure should double in 2012.

Ramatov underlined that 120 km railway has been constructed will Mazar-i-Sharif. He said that after completion of railway Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran, Uzbekistan will be linked with Iran.

Speaking about construction of railway to Osh, Ramatov stated that this railway will link Central Asian states to China and its launch will unite China and Iran.

Uzbekistan Temir Yollari’s chief said that the volume of transit through Uzbekistan grew by 25% in 2011. Uzbekistan is interested in strengthening relations with Iran to expend cargo transportation to Bender-Abbas port.