Logistics Partnership Strengthened at Kazakhstan–China Transport Forum in Astana
Astana hosted the First Kazakhstan–China Transport Forum, bringing together government officials, logistics operators, and business leaders from both countries. Key speakers included Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev, China’s Minister of Transport Liu Wei, representatives from CCCC, COSCO Shipping, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, KAZAKH INVEST, and other major companies and institutions.
The forum focused on joint infrastructure projects, the development of the Middle Corridor, logistics digitalization, and expanding the region’s transit potential. Participants reaffirmed that the Belt and Road Initiative remains a strategic foundation for regional integration — with Kazakhstan playing a central role. With its geographic position and rapidly advancing infrastructure, Kazakhstan has the potential to serve as a critical land bridge between China and Europe and a key transit hub for Central Asia.
Among the plenary session speakers was Madiyar Sultanbek, Deputy Chairman of the Board of KAZAKH INVEST. He emphasized the strategic importance of transport and logistics in Kazakhstan–China investment cooperation and outlined current initiatives supported by the company:
“We consider Chinese companies as strategic partners in unlocking Kazakhstan’s transit potential. Today, KAZAKH INVEST is supporting more than 200 investment projects, many of which are in infrastructure, logistics, and manufacturing. Given the growing cargo flow through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Kazakhstan offers effective incentives for establishing industrial facilities and modern logistics infrastructure,” he noted.
The forum served as a practical platform for advancing specific projects related to trunk infrastructure expansion, multimodal route development, and Chinese investor participation in Kazakhstan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and industrial zones. Both sides confirmed their readiness to deepen industrial cooperation and strengthen interconnected logistics under long-term strategic frameworks.
