Days before the 14 May Presidential Elections, the 13th Presidential Candidate and CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu shared a video on his social media account in which he explained the 'Historical Silk Road Highway and Railway' project. The project announced by Kılıçdaroğlu, who shared with the phrase "Neither the West nor the East, this is the way of the Turk", drew attention. So, what is the Historical Silk Road Highway project? Historical Silk
What is the Highway Highway and Railway project?
Kılıçdaroğlu said: “My dear people, dear young people. They slander that the 'Nation Alliance is pro-Western'. Let them talk. Today I am announcing the biggest project of my life. Let them see how much I care about the west and the east. I don't distinguish between east and west. Where the interests of the Turkish state are, I'll be there. The project that I will explain is the project of the Turkish state to meet with the Turkish world in real terms. This is a project that will bring Turkey's relations with the Turkic world, which started late but gradually started to settle on a healthy ground, to the throne.
We will revive the historical silk road. In other words, we will connect Turkey to China. We will open a fast new trade and transport corridor, namely the highway. Along this corridor, we will create a high-capacity highway and double-track railway infrastructure. The historical silk road highway and railway will be approximately 5 kilometers long.
Now think about it, leaving Gürbulak and Kapıköy in Turkey, passing Tabriz and Tehran in Iran, Ashgabat in Turkmenistan, Tashkent in Uzbekistan and Almaty in Kazakhstan, you will arrive in China. Thus, Gürbulak and China will be connected to the European and Black Sea ports of the countries on the corridor in the north, and to Kapıköy, Mersin and İskenderun ports in the south.
My dear people, today about 90 percent of international trade is done by sea. This project will bring together the landlocked Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan with Turkish ports. Turkey will be the maritime entrance gate of the Turkish world. Look, this will worry the west. They will pass their report tonight. And I say, let them be worried.
I will also have a word with China. Since this project will also be an opportunity for China, it will be one of our prerequisites for them to stop the persecution they inflict on Turkestan. We will not leave our lives and blood there to their fate. In short, both the West and China should be concerned. Let's go about our business. This project is a win-win project. We will say, 'Here, sit at the table with us'.
The trade of these regions with the United States will also be transited through our ports. Improvements and new connections will be made in the road and railway transportation infrastructures in our country in order to ensure the connection of the corridor to all regions of Turkey and the ports to Europe.
The first of these is the Horasan, Ağrı, Gürbulak railway line. This transit route will have several exits for each country. Bonded logistics centers will be built around the exit guilds. Export goods will arrive in Iran in 17 hours, in Turkmenistan in 31 hours, in Uzbekistan in 50 hours, in Kazakhstan in 63 hours. With the historical silk road highway and railway, our transit trade volume between Europe and these countries will grow tremendously.
Our foreign trade will increase by at least 50 percent. Turkey's economic and strategic importance in the world will increase even more when it hosts one of the most important trade routes between Asia and Europe. On his own terms, he will start playing his own game. Because with this connection, we will facilitate trade between Europe and Asia.
We will ensure greater cooperation and economic integration between countries. Turkey will have a vital position on the trade routes between Central Asia, the Caucasus and China. It will become the center country in global and regional trade, transport and logistics networks. Apart from all these, the historical silk road highway and railway will increase the political, cultural and social interaction between the countries.
Our cultural and historical ties, our common historical memory, will become stronger. Turkey will be fully integrated with its sister geographies. I used to say that Türkiye will compete with the world, but I have never sold dreams to my people. Believe me, it is not difficult at all. This is how our beautiful country will become a country that competes with the world and integrates with the Turkish world. My dear people, Türkiye deserves this more than enough. Stay well.”