This is a photo of the double tunnel entrances of the No. 9 tunnel of the modern railway project in Georgia taken in Hasuri, Georgia on December 24th. Photo by Chen Junfeng of Xinhua News Agency

On December 25th, the opening ceremony of the modern railway project in Georgia, which was constructed by a Chinese enterprise, was held in the central Georgian city of Hashuli. Georgian Prime Minister Kobahidze, Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Maryam Kefrivishvili, and representatives of Chinese enterprises attended the ceremony.

Kobashize said in his speech that after the completion of the project, Georgia's railway transportation capacity will be significantly improved, operating costs will be effectively reduced, driving safety will be more guaranteed, and passenger experience will be more comfortable. He stated that the Georgian government is committed to building Georgia into a key and reliable part of the "middle corridor", and modernizing railways will help enhance Georgia's competitiveness, improve its transit transport capacity, and lay a solid foundation for supporting the continued expansion of trade between Europe and Asia.

Guo Hai, Deputy General Manager of Georgia Branch of China Railway 23rd Bureau Group Co., Ltd., the project contractor, introduced that the project is the core upgrade project of the East West Railway mainline in Georgia. After the project is put into operation, it can effectively increase the transit freight volume in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, becoming one of the key connecting nodes of the "middle corridor".

The total length of the modern railway project in Georgia is about 41 kilometers. According to the Georgian Railway Company, after the railway is officially opened, the annual freight capacity of the line will increase from 27 million tons to 48 million tons.

This is the railway outside Tunnel No. 9 of Georgia's modern railway project, taken in Khashuri, Georgia on December 24. Photo by Chen Junfeng, Xinhua News Agency reporter.

This is the railway outside the No. 9 tunnel of the Georgian Modern Railway project taken in Hasuri, Georgia on December 24th. Photo by Chen Junfeng of Xinhua News Agency