Kazakhstan and China Consider Launching a River Route Along the Ili

Kazakhstan and China are considering the creation of a new cross-border transport route that could connect Konaev with the Chinese city of Yining. Cargo transportation between the two countries is proposed to be organized along the Ili River.

The project was discussed during a working visit to China by Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Nurlan Nalibayev.

During the visit, the Kazakh delegation took part in the Global Sustainable Transport Forum. Kazakhstan's transit capabilities and further options for diversifying logistics routes were presented at the event. One of the projects under consideration was the development of river transportation along the Ili.

According to the First Deputy Prime Minister, the new route could complement the existing road and rail transport corridors connecting China with the countries of Central Asia.

Inland water transport is expected to be used, among other purposes, for the transportation of oversized, heavy and project cargo. The possibility of handling significant volumes of cargo traffic through river transportation was also noted.

Over the past five years, the volume of cargo transported from China in transit through Kazakhstan has increased 3.5-fold. Over the past eight months alone, more than 60 thousand containers have been transported along the Trans-Caspian route.

At the same time, the volume of cargo transported by rail exceeded 25 million tonnes.

During the working visit, particular attention was also paid to the further development of the Middle Corridor. The Kazakh side plans to agree on a schedule for the upcoming work within a short period and synchronize it with the development of border infrastructure.

Another area of focus is the joint attraction of investment for projects within the Middle Corridor. International financial institutions, development banks and private businesses are expected to be more actively involved in financing the development of transport infrastructure.