Kazakhstan and China are set to elevate their cooperation in transport and logistics through the integration of artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and big data technologies. The announcement was made by Nurlan Zhakupov, Chairman of the Management Board of Samruk-Kazyna, during a business forum held in Shanghai.

According to Zhakupov, the competitiveness of international transport corridors is no longer determined solely by physical infrastructure but increasingly by the level of digitalization and technological innovation.

"The competitiveness of transport routes no longer depends only on infrastructure. Data, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence are playing an increasingly important role," Zhakupov stated.

As part of this cooperation, Kazakhstan and China plan to establish an intelligent transport corridor that will integrate existing transport infrastructure with artificial intelligence, big data, and digital twin technologies. The system is expected to enable real-time monitoring and optimization of cargo flows, significantly improving the efficiency of international freight transportation.

The existing logistics network already connects the Chinese Port of Lianyungang, the Xi'an logistics terminal, Kazakhstan's Khorgos Gateway dry port, the Port of Aktau, and the ZHETYSU logistics hub in Almaty. In 2027, the network is expected to be expanded with the construction of a new dry port in Chengdu, further strengthening the transport route linking the Pacific region with Europe through Kazakhstan and the Caspian Sea.

Infrastructure development is also progressing rapidly. Kazakhstan is currently constructing the Bakhty–Ayagoz railway line, which will create the country's third railway border crossing with China. The new crossing is expected to have an annual capacity of 25 million tons of cargo, significantly enhancing bilateral trade and regional transit potential.

According to Zhakupov, these joint initiatives will further reinforce the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) as one of the key transport corridors connecting Asia and Europe.

The scale of Kazakhstan-China economic cooperation is also reflected in growing investment activity. Samruk-Kazyna, together with CITIC Group, co-chairs the Kazakhstan-China Business Council. During its two most recent meetings, the parties signed more than 110 commercial agreements worth approximately US$20 billion, covering projects in transport, energy, industry, and digital transformation.