Azernews.Az

Chinese leader Hu Jintao and Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian have discussed China's participation in the construction of a railway to link Armenia and Iran, the Armenian government's press-service said Sunday, RIA Novosti reported.
Last year the Armenian and Iranian transport ministers signed an agreement to build a railway linking Armenia with Iran's Persian Gulf ports. The construction of the 470-kilometer long railway, with 410 kilometers passing through Armenian territory, is expected to take at least five years and to cost $1.5-$1.8 billion.
"Sarkisian said that the development of relations with China is a priority of Yerevan’s foreign policy, and noted that bilateral relations do already have a good dynamic of their development," the statement said.
The sides also praised the successful implementation of various joint projects in the fields of energy, chemical industry, agriculture, science and technology, defense, culture and education.
Last year Armenia reached an agreement with Iran on a $400 million loan for the construction of a railway between the two countries. The railway, with the Armenian section connecting the northern city of Sevan to the southern city of Meghri on the border with Iran, will ensure the transportation of energy supplies and other goods, and increase trade between the countries.
Landlocked Armenia has rail links with other countries only through the territory of Georgia, which is complicated by Tbilisi's often fractious relations with Moscow.*