Construction of 2,000-km highway linking Europe with China through Russia to start soon

A new highway stretching 2,000 kilometers through Russia has received the green light from officials. The "Meridan" highway will run westward from the country's border with Kazakhstan, creating the shortest route to move goods between mainland Europe and China, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported, CNN writes.

The agency said that Russian politician Dmitry Medvedev approved the first phase of the project, which will be funded as part of a partnership between private investors with state support. The project will cost an estimated USD 9.4 billion.

RIA Novosti reported that more than 80% of the land needed for the construction of the highway has already been bought, CNN adds.

The project is just one of many aiming to improve infrastructure and connectivity in the area.
In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the The Belt and Road Initiative -- a global infrastructure policy aiming to build ports, roads and railways to create new trade corridors linking China to Asia, Africa and Europe.

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RIA

Dmitry Medvedev

Xi Jinping

construction of new highway

highway from China to Europe

Meridan highway

goods transport between Europe and China

Belt and Road initiative

construction of ports

construction of roads

construction of railways