Economy

China, Afghanistan sign agreement on railway construction

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-23 14:27
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KABUL - The Afghan government and China Metallurgical Corporation Group Corporation (MCC) inked an agreement here Wednesday under which the Chinese firm agreed to construct a railway corridor in Afghanistan.

"According to the agreement signed with the MCC, the (Chinese) company is to construct a railway corridor from Aynak cooper mine in Logar province south of capital city of Kabul to eastern Torkham and northern Hyratan border towns," Afghan Minister for Mines Waheedullah Shahrani told newsman before clinching the agreement.

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Shahrani and Zou Jianhui, head of the Aynak project, inked the agreement on behalf of the two sides.

According to the agreement, the MCC during six months, in an international competition, would hire a specialized firm to conduct technical survey and feasibility report for the project, said the Afghan minister.

"The survey and study process will be completed in two years," Shahrani said, adding that the railway corridor is not only for transporting of mineral deposits but will also be used for transportation of goods and passengers as well.

Aynak Copper mine is located in the country's Logar province some 60 km south of Afghan capital Kabul where the MCC won the bidding in 2007.