Kazakh President Reveals Logistics Plans at Belt and Road Forum in Beijing
Kazakhstan Plans to Expand Railway Network and Develop as a Major Transport Hub
During the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced plans to enhance the country’s transport infrastructure. Over the next three years, Kazakhstan aims to lay 1,300 kilometers of new railway lines, establish a third railway checkpoint at the Chinese border, and construct two dry ports, Bakhty and Kalzhat.
As the largest landlocked country in the world and sharing a lengthy border with China, Kazakhstan looks to play a crucial role as an international transport and logistics hub. It already accounts for approximately 85% of all land transit traffic from China to Europe. President Tokayev emphasized the country’s commitment to becoming a vital link in the transportation chain.
Kazakhstan has already invested over $35 billion in the past 15 years to develop significant infrastructure projects. These include the Kazakh-Chinese logistics center in Lianyungang, the Khorgos dry port, the Western Europe – Western China transit highway, and the railway corridor from China to Iran.
One of the key initiatives highlighted by President Tokayev is the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). This flagship project has the potential to evolve into a “continental bridge of the Belt and Road,” effectively reducing cargo transportation time and costs.
To strengthen cooperation with China, Kazakhstan recently signed two intergovernmental agreements. President Tokayev proposed the creation of a partnership network consisting of large strategic ports, logistics centers, and postal hubs. Additionally, he suggested the establishment of joint production of transport ships and containers.
President Tokayev also emphasized Kazakhstan’s readiness to act as a reliable air bridge and a convenient harbor for leading airlines, ensuring sustainable passenger and cargo traffic.
In a new global project called the Digital Silk Road, President Tokayev expressed confidence that innovative economic development would be facilitated through digital and intellectual interaction.
Kazakhstan is fully committed to the Belt and Road Initiative and is eager to contribute to its success in the next decade. President Tokayev views the initiative as a highly effective platform for large-scale international cooperation, connecting more than 150 countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa through an extensive network of railways, highways, and sea routes.
The President noted that the Belt and Road Initiative has provided a common benefit for participating states, enabling them to address complex challenges amid global economic turbulence. Additionally, the initiative promotes cultural and humanitarian ties, fostering good neighborliness, friendship, and mutual understanding among countries.
President Tokayev highlighted that it was in Kazakhstan where China introduced the Belt and Road Initiative ten years ago, making the country the main driving force and a catalyst for economic and technological development.
The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation saw the participation of leaders and representatives from over 130 countries and international organizations, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
