What does the third railway between China and Kazakhstan transport?

Kazakhstan's President Tokayev once said: "China has never harmed Kazakhstan."

The connectivity between China and Kazakhstan is a bright spot in this increasingly turbulent world, a safe haven in stormy waters.

From the vast fields of northern Kazakhstan to the Alatau Valley blooming with wild apple blossoms, from the oil wells of the Caspian Sea to the Balkhash Lake fed by the waters of the Seven Rivers, Kazakhstan's development benefits from its cooperation with its eastern neighbor.

Positioned at the heart of Asia, Kazakhstan sees itself as a hub for east-west and north-south connections: the east-west direction features the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), while the north-south direction includes the North-South International Transport Corridor.

The "Northern Corridor," which handles 80% of the logistics for China-Europe trains, faces a series of uncertainties in the future due to the intensification of geopolitical tensions (the Russia-Ukraine conflict).

The "Middle Corridor" central line, which is of concern to Central Asian and South Caucasus countries, suffers from outdated infrastructure and insufficient capacity. The European Union, under the "Global Gateway" initiative, provides development assistance funds in an attempt to reshape logistics routes independent of Russia.

The construction of the third railway between China and Kazakhstan is underway between Abay Oblast, Kazakhstan, and Tacheng, Xinjiang, China. According to the latest statement by the governor, China is Abay Oblast's largest trading partner. In 2024, 89% of Abay Oblast's foreign trade volume will come from border trade with China, with total exports reaching $2.1 billion, a fivefold increase year-on-year.

In addition, the governor also introduced four key projects currently being implemented with Chinese investment: a copper smelter with a total investment of $1.5 billion, a timber processing complex worth $30.4 million, a coal chemical complex worth $2.5 billion, and a wind power station project valued at $107 million.

The third railway will alleviate the transportation pressure on the Dos-topt-Darbessar route and bring new development opportunities to the central-northern region of Kazakhstan.

The wheels of history roll forward, and the steel camel caravans of the new era will restore the historical glory of the ancient "Silk Road"!

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833282540255244/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's views.