კონფერენცია

∘ Vladimer Papava ∘ Tamar Tapladze ∘
ON THE TRANSPORT CORRIDORS THROUGH THE CAUCASUS, LINKING EUROPE AND ASIA

Summary

The paper examines the transport corridors connecting Europe and Asia through the Caucasus, focusing on two key routes: the Middle Corridor, a component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and the Zangezur Corridor. Both corridors serve to link Azerbaijan and Turkey, but follow different paths—the Middle Corridor runs through Georgia, while and the Zangezur Corridor passes through Armenia near the Iranian border. The analysis demonstrates that it is inaccurate to regard the Zangezur Corridor as a branch of the Middle Corridor unless Beijing formally recognizes it as such, given that the Middle Corridor is a Chinese project. The paper argues that for the peaceful development of the Caucasus, it is necessary to consider the Middle and Zangezur corridors not as alternative, but as complementary routes.

Keywords: Belt and Road Initiative, Middle Corridor, Zangezur Corridor, Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.

Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University Paata Gugushvili Institute of Economics International Scientific C O N F E R E N C E S "ECONOMY – XXI CENTURY"

E ISSN 2587 - 4691	∘ Vladimer Papava ∘ Tamar Tapladze ∘ ON THE TRANSPORT CORRIDORS THROUGH THE CAUCASUS, LINKING EUROPE AND ASIA Summary The paper examines the transport corridors connecting Europe and Asia through the Caucasus, focusing on two key routes: the Middle Corridor, a component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and the Zangezur Corridor. Both corridors serve to link Azerbaijan and Turkey, but follow different paths—the Middle Corridor runs through Georgia, while and the Zangezur Corridor passes through Armenia near the Iranian border. The analysis demonstrates that it is inaccurate to regard the Zangezur Corridor as a branch of the Middle Corridor unless Beijing formally recognizes it as such, given that the Middle Corridor is a Chinese project. The paper argues that for the peaceful development of the Caucasus, it is necessary to consider the Middle and Zangezur corridors not as alternative, but as complementary routes. *Keywords:* Belt and Road Initiative, Middle Corridor, Zangezur Corridor, Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.