ASTANA – A Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) delegation recently took part in the international forum Creation of the New Economic Corridor Eurasian Continental Bridge in Lianyungang, China, the KTZ press service reported.
According to President of KTZ Kanat Alpysbayev, the favourable geographical position of the port and well-established rail and sea communications with major Chinese cities and ports promote integration of Kazakhstan and countries of the region in the international supply chain.
“Our goal is to create a multi-modal Eurasian transcontinental bridge that allows for unimpeded transit of goods from Asia to Europe in three areas: China-Europe-China, China-Caucasus-Turkey and Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran,” said Alpysbayev.
“Kazakhstan is the first country on the map of the Silk Road Economic Belt [after China] and is the main link connecting Europe with China,” he added, “Kazakhstan is making a significant contribution to the creation of the New Eurasian Continental Bridge.”
He called Lianyungang the “Eastern gate of the New Eurasian Continental Bridge, the centre point of the Silk Road between the sea and land.” He stressed the important role of the joint Kazakh-Chinese terminal at the port of Lianyungang in the creation of the transcontinental corridor China – Europe.
The implementation of the projects under Kazakh state programme Nurly Zhol and China’s program One Belt One Road will increase the transit flow by 2020 to 2 million containers from China to Europe.
Alpysbayev highlighted Kazakhstan’s development of transport and logistics infrastructure and transit potential. Kazakhstan is forming a network of logistics centres at key points of consolidation and distribution of cargo flows on the Eurasian continent within and beyond its borders and by doing so the country is creating favourable conditions for the implementation of investment projects.
Currently, the ground support to ensure trading through Kazakhstan is being used via container trains specially-prepared by KTZ in the Chinese provinces of Chunchin, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, Xi’an, Yiwu, Hefei, and Lanzhou, and including such global companies as HP, DHL, Foxconn and others.
While in Lianyungang, Alpysbayev also met with the mayor of the city Xiang Xuelong. The two discussed participation of Chinese companies in the development of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Khorgos – Eastern Gate project. Last year, during the official visit of the Kazakh head of state to China, the sides signed an agreement whereby China would invest $600 million in the development of the SEZ.
They also discussed the possibility of increasing cargo traffic along the Lianyungang – Dry Port SEZ Khorgos – Eastern Gate route and establishing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Logistics Zone at the Lianyungang Port.
Cooperation and joint work on projects in the ports of Lianyungang and SEZ Khorgos were further discussed during the talks with Secretary of the Party Committee of the City of Lyanyungan Yang Xingsheng. The sides called for “greater integration in the preservation of the competitive position and provision of the best conditions for customers.”
