Kazakhstan offers best possible conduit between East and West

This project has advantages over alternative corridors. It can deliver goods from the port of Lianyungang of East China's Jiangsu Province to the borders of Europe in 10 days, while the Transsiberian route takes 14 days, and maritime transport up to 45 days. In coming years, trade between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, especially with China, will reach $1 trillion. Taking into account the speed of traffic as one of the competitive factors of land transport, the greatest prospect for this development will be for food and perishables, rush orders and valuable goods.

The "western Europe-western China" highway is key for the economy of Kazakhstan. Significant regional development will affect five major regions of the country, namely Aktobe, Kyzylorda, South Kazakhstan, Zhambyl and Almaty, covering a total population of 7.5 million people. We must assume that the road is also attractive for the Chinese side given the development of Xinjiang.

One great interest in the development of such transport communications is land access to Gulf markets, especially Iran. In May, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan opened a direct rail link. This corridor allows for direct delivery of goods along the shortest path and reduces the rail journey time.

This creates great prospects for multi-modal transportation, connecting rail, road and sea transport in the Caspian Sea. Currently, Kazakh ports on the Caspian Sea annually transport about 12.3 million tons of cargo. The increase in traffic is expected to be helped by the modernization of existing infrastructure at the port of Aktau and the further development and construction of the port of Bautino, Kuryk.

Cooperation with Chinese partners in the organization of container transport with further access to the European rail system will facilitate the creation of transport logistics in Kazakhstan and China.

Therefore, the implementation of a route from the east coast of China, through Xinjiang, Dostyk-Aktau, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus, Turkey and western Europe will allow for direct transportation between the West and the East.

Also noteworthy are the individual projects for the implementation of high-speed rail systems. In this regard, China proposed the construction of a high-speed railway system from Beijing to London via Kazakhstan, Russia and several European countries. The coordination between all project participants aims to start building the road by 2020.

Thus, Kazakhstan and China are reviving the Great Silk Road which played a significant role in the development of many civilizations. In a global market, intercontinental overland transport and communication arteries may also play a big role in the development of the modern world.

Published by the Kazakh Embassy in U.S.