Baghdad, The Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhaibas Al-Saadawi, today, Saturday, determined the importance of the railway link project (Basra - Shalamcheh). The Ministry of Transport said in a statement: 'The minister headed a technical ministerial delegation to the Islamic Republic of Iran to discuss the details of the Basra-Shalamcheh railway project to transport passengers and visitors between the two countries.' The statement added, 'The technical team included both the Director General of the Technical Department, Salman Al-Bahadli, and the Director General of Railways, Younis Khaled Jawad Al-Kaabi, and in the presence of a representative of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they launched a round of preliminary discussions with the Undersecretary of the Iranian Ministry of Transport and Director General of Railways, Mead Salehi, to discuss the technical issues of the project . The statement confirmed, "Al-Saadawi chaired, along with Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazarba sh, an expanded meeting between the Iraqi and Iranian technical teams, who discussed the technical issues of the project, in the presence of the Iraqi ambassador to Tehran, Naseer Abdul Mohsen." The minister said at the beginning of the meeting: 'The project is of interest to both countries, as it constitutes an important and safe means of transportation for visitors and travelers, especially during the days of million-man visits,' stressing that 'the project will contribute greatly to strengthening the tourism sector between the two countries, especially religious tourism.' It will also shorten travel time and be safer for travelers, in addition to lowering the cost of travel through it.' The statement continued, "The meeting reviewed developments in the project, studies and designs for implementing the line, and also discussed the specifications of the companies that will implement the project in a way that serves the interests of the two countries." The statement indicated that "Director General of Mari time Transport, Ahmed Jassim Al-Asadi, discussed during the meeting ways to stimulate the movement of passengers and visitors between the two countries, via sea and river lanes." Source: National Iraqi News Agency