ASTANA: Kazakhstan is intensifying efforts to enhance its freight rail connections with both Russia and China, aiming to solidify its position as a key transit hub for cargo traffic between East Asia and Europe.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev inaugurated a new logistics and innovation center operated by Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) in Xian, China, via video link in late February. This facility, capable of handling approximately 66,000 standard intermodal containers per year, underscores Kazakhstan’s commitment to facilitating trade between China and Europe.
According to a statement from KTZ, Xian accounts for around 40 percent of all Europe-bound freight trains originating in China, highlighting the strategic importance of the newly established center. President Tokayev emphasized that this development will not only boost the transport-logistics sector but also contribute to Kazakhstan’s overall economic growth.
Rail Traffic Between China and Kazakhstan
The volume of freight rail traffic between China and Kazakhstan has witnessed a notable increase, with a 22 percent rise reported in January 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Additionally, a KTZ subsidiary recently inked an agreement with a Chinese logistics company based in Chongqing to facilitate the transit of at least 200 container trains through Kazakhstan, totaling 20,000 TEU in cargo volume.
KTZ projects further growth in 2024, with plans to accommodate 3,500 container trains transiting Kazakhstan, carrying an estimated volume of 350,000 TEU.
In collaboration with a Russian firm, KTZ is also expanding transport and warehousing capacity to facilitate Russia-bound freight, a move that could facilitate trade amid international sanctions. A memorandum of understanding signed between KTZ, a Chinese company, and Russia’s JVC Slavtrans-Service outlines plans for infrastructure development near Moscow and aims to strengthen transit links between Xian and the Russian capital.
