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Beijing Meeting Charts Future of China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran Rail Corridor

On December 25, experts convened in Beijing to evaluate the performance and future potential of the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway route. The meeting reviewed the route’s operational results for 2024 and explored opportunities for further development. Kazakhstan was represented by KTZ Express, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway company. According to KTZ Express, cargo transportation volume along the route increased by 31% during the first 11 months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This growth underscores the rising interest of market participants in the route and highlights Kazakhstan’s critical role as a transit hub in the global supply chain. Key Discussion Points Participants focused on several areas to enhance the route’s efficiency: Increasing cargo delivery speeds to further reduce transit times. Optimizing customs procedures to streamline cross-border operations. Implementing modern digital solutions to simplify logistics processes and improve transparency. Strategic Importance of the Route The China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway corridor is a vital link in Eurasian trade, facilitating the rapid movement of goods from China’s eastern coast to the Persian Gulf and Middle Eastern markets. This corridor has already achieved significant milestones, reducing delivery times between China and Iran to just 15 days. With its growing cargo volumes and strategic positioning, the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway route is poised to become an even more significant player in Eurasian trade. Continued efforts to optimize its operations and infrastructure will further solidify its role in connecting key global markets.

Transport China Railway Investment International transport China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway railroads

Important Deal Signed for China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Project

On December 20, Bishkek hosted the signing of an investment agreement between Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers and China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Company LLC. The agreement encompasses the design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. The announcement came shortly after Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov revealed that construction on the strategic railway, which will connect the three nations, is set to begin on December 27. The agreement was signed by Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Absattar Syrgabaev, and Zhong Shenggui, Chairman of the Board of Directors of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Company LLC. A Historic Milestone The signing ceremony was attended by Kyrgyz Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobayev; Li Baojie, Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan; and Saidikram Iyazkhodjaev, Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan. In his remarks, Torobayev called the agreement a historic achievement for the three nations, marking the conclusion of a lengthy negotiation process and the start of practical implementation. “This large-scale infrastructure project is of both regional and international significance,” he emphasized. Strategic Importance of the Railway The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is a pivotal development for the transport strategies of the participating countries. Currently, neither Kyrgyzstan nor Uzbekistan has a direct railway link with China, while Central Asia’s rail connection to China is limited to a route through Kazakhstan. Furthermore, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan lack a direct railway link between them. The project’s significance was cemented on June 6, 2024, when China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan signed an intergovernmental agreement in Beijing. The 523-kilometer railway will traverse Kashgar (China), Torugart, Makmal, Jalal-Abad (Kyrgyzstan), and Andijan (Uzbekistan). Transit and logistics infrastructure will be developed along the route to support its operations. Once completed, the railway is expected to transport up to 15 million tons of cargo annually, significantly enhancing trade and connectivity in the region.

Tourism Railway Railway stations railroads tourism industry

New Train Connects Astana and Borovoye Resort in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s national railways company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), has announced the launch of a new electric train connecting the capital, Astana, and Borovoye, one of the country’s most popular year-round resorts. Borovoye is the widespread and commonly used Russian name of the Burabay National Park, located just 250 kilometers north of Astana. The new train will take passengers from Astana to Borovoye in just 2 hours and 26 minutes, without any stops. The train, consisting of six modern domestically manufactured carriages for a total of 574 passengers, will run five days a week. It is equipped with USB sockets, Wi-Fi, and bicycle racks. For passengers with disabilities, it has lifts and places for wheelchairs. Nurtas Karipbayev, Chairman of the Tourism Industry Committee at Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, commented: "The launch of a new tourist train is an important step in the development of domestic tourism and the creation of new opportunities for travel in Kazakhstan. We are confident that this train will become a favorite way for residents and guests of our country to get to one of its most beautiful resorts". According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, over the first nine months of 2024, the number of domestic tourists traveling inside Kazakhstan increased by 562,000 and reached 6 million. The number of foreign visitors was 11.5 million, almost twice as much as in the same period in 2023.

railroads Customs Digitalization Middle Corridor TITR Tez customs Digital Trade Corridor International transport Multimodal Transport Corrdior

Kazakhstan and China Digitalize Customs Procedures on Middle Corridor

Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), Kazakhstan's national railway company, has announced the digitalization of customs declaration procedures for transit cargo along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, at the border between Kazakhstan and China. In collaboration with Global DTC, KTZ Express - a subsidiary of KTZ - has launched the Tez Customs digital platform. This system transitions customs operations to a paperless format, reducing processing time to just 30 minutes after a train's arrival at the border station. The platform enables preliminary preparation of documents, automatic registration, and issuance of transit declarations. These capabilities optimize logistics processes, enhance transparency at all stages of customs clearance, and significantly reduce the time required for customs operations. Since May 2024, Tez Customs has fully automated customs clearance processes for transit cargo along the China–Central Asia route via Kazakhstan, specifically along the Altynkol-Saryagash section. In October 2024, its scope was expanded to include cargo transported along the Middle Corridor. To date, Tez Customs has processed over 54,000 transit declarations on the China to Central Asia route and more than 5,000 declarations on the TITR. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route serves as a critical link between China and Europe, passing through Kazakhstan and the Caucasus. More than 80% of all land cargo transported from China to Europe travels through Kazakhstan, according to Kazakh statistics. During the first nine months of 2024, the volume of cargo transported along the Middle Corridor increased by 23% compared to the entirety of the previous year, reaching 3.4 million tons. Projections suggest that by 2030, this figure will rise to 10 million tons annually. The digitalization of customs procedures via Tez Customs represents a significant advancement in the efficiency and transparency of transit operations on the TITR. This innovation reinforces Kazakhstan’s position as a vital transit hub for trade between China, Central Asia, and Europe, while also supporting the continued growth of cargo volumes along the Middle Corridor.

Transport China Economic Growth Infrastructure Development TITR International transport Multimodal Transport Corrdior railroads

China to Transport Lithium-Ion Batteries Along TITR via Kazakhstan

This month marks a significant milestone in Kazakhstan-China transport cooperation with the test shipment of lithium-ion batteries from China via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). This major trade corridor links China to Europe through Kazakhstan and the Caucasus. The decision was announced following a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev and China’s Transport Minister Liu Wei in Beijing on December 5. Strengthening TITR Cooperation The two ministers agreed on initiatives to further develop the TITR, including the creation of a permanent working group to facilitate the seamless flow of goods. They also highlighted advancements in the digitization of transport operations. Truckers can now receive permit forms within an hour through a newly implemented digital platform, streamlining international road transportation. The TITR is seeing rapidly growing freight traffic. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, road freight volumes with China have more than doubled annually. Before 2023, Kazakh truckers made approximately 50,000 trips per year. In 2024, this figure is projected to reach 230,000 trips. Expanding Multimodal Transport The meeting also explored the potential for developing cargo transportation via transboundary rivers between the two nations. Both ministers noted a surge in rail and road freight volumes, as well as transit transportation through the Middle Corridor (another name for the TITR). From January to October 2024, rail freight between Kazakhstan and China increased by 13%, reaching 26.6 million tons. Road freight volumes soared by 60% in the third quarter alone, amounting to 1.9 million tons. Meanwhile, cargo transportation from China to Europe via the TITR has experienced explosive growth. In 2024, the volume surpassed 27,000 twenty-foot containers, a 25-fold increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Khorgos railroads Foreign Cooperation China Pakistan Xinjiang Trade Economic Cooperation Uyghur Belt and Road Initiative

Amid Sanctions, China’s Xinjiang Strengthens Ties with Central Asia

China’s Xinjiang region is deepening its engagement with Pakistan and Central Asia as part of efforts to counter Western sanctions and bolster its role in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). On November 26, officials from Xinjiang met with their counterparts from Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu region for the first meeting under a new cross-border coordination mechanism. The discussions focused on cross-border tourism, infrastructure, market regulation, quarantine measures, and joint crime prevention. The meeting culminated in the signing of a memorandum on cross-border tourism. The discussions took place near the port of Khorgos, a critical hub for the China Railway Express, which connects China with Europe. Khorgos is home to China’s first cross-border cooperation center, where residents of neighboring countries can engage in business and shop visa-free. The center allows duty-free purchases of up to 8,000 yuan ($1,104) per day. Xinjiang Governor Erkin Tunyoz stressed the importance of strengthening ties with Zhetysu in areas such as trade, tourism, security, and agriculture. This cooperation is becoming increasingly crucial for Beijing as Xinjiang grapples with sanctions from the United States and other Western countries over alleged human rights abuses—a claim that China denies. Sanctions include the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which prohibits imports from Xinjiang suspected of being produced using forced labor. Similar measures have been implemented by Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. In addition to its collaboration with Kazakhstan, China has established a dialogue mechanism with the five Central Asian countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Since 2020, foreign ministers from these nations have met annually to discuss logistics, trade, investment, agriculture, mining, and security. Li Lifan, a Central Asia scholar at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, described Xinjiang as a “bridgehead” for the BRI. He highlighted the region’s rich natural resources and its role as a base for major industries, including automobile manufacturing. In 2023, trade between Xinjiang and Central Asian countries surged by 50%, reaching 283 billion yuan ($39 billion). Despite these successes, Li cautioned about future challenges. He noted uncertainties surrounding potential Western secondary sanctions, geopolitical tensions, and Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. Additionally, U.S.-China relations remain fraught, with further unpredictability anticipated under the leadership of Donald Trump. “Full economic development may only be achievable once global tensions ease,” he said.