The successful signing of the agreement has become another important measure for the two places to actively participate in the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, which will be a strong manifestation of Chongqing's response to the eight measures to support the high-quality co-construction of the Belt and Road.
In recent years, with the progress of the Belt and Road Initiative, China and Kazakhstan have been cooperating more closely in various fields. On 20-23 May, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan signed a joint statement, the two sides are willing to continue to increase the level of connectivity, improve cross-border freight transport and port capacity, deepen the China-Europe liner and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor pragmatic cooperation. Caspian Sea International Transport Corridor and promote land and sea transport.
At present, China has become Kazakhstan's largest trading partner, and the trade volume between the two countries will exceed US$40 billion for the first time in 2023. Kazakhstan is one of the major transit countries and key sections of the main route of Chongqing's China-Europe liner, with more than 70 per cent of Chongqing's China-Europe liner passing through the country every year, and it is also the main arrival country and distribution and collection point for Chongqing's Central Asia liner.
"We have established in-depth cooperation with HART in a number of areas, including new route development, winter transportation of electronic products, Central Asia liner operation, China-Harbin Railway transportation and mail, transport and trade integration, 'Customs and Iron Pass' and the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor." Liu Taiping, Executive Director and General Manager of YuXinOu (Chongqing) Supply Chain Management Co, Ltd, introduced that it is worth mentioning that the first direct special train of Chongqing-Turkey on the South Pass Road opened by both sides was successfully delivered on 21 February, and it became the second China-Europe shuttle train line on the South Pass Road opened in Chongqing after Constanta in Romania.
Zhang Qiang, General Manager of Chongqing Logistics Group, pointed out that the Chongqing China-Europe Shuttle Train Operating Company was jointly established by "four countries and five parties", and HART, as one of the important "parties", has made a positive contribution to the efficient opening of the Chongqing-New Zealand-Europe International Logistics Corridor. With its support, the Chongqing China-Europe and Central Asia shuttle trains have been running steadily throughout the year, and a total of 11 consolidation and distribution points have been established.
Data show that by the end of January this year, the cumulative volume of Chongqing China-European Union shuttle train in previous years has exceeded 15,000 columns, with a cargo value of more than 510 billion yuan; the cumulative volume of Central Asia shuttle train has exceeded 205 columns, with a cargo value of more than 6 billion yuan.
According to the agreement, the two sides will establish a comprehensive strategic cooperation, work together in the fields of improving transport efficiency, reducing logistics costs, optimising transport routes, strengthening the construction of logistics facilities, improving the level of transport organisation and developing the whole supply chain service, etc, to further increase the transport volume of international liner trains from Chongqing to Central Asia, the European Union countries, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, etc., and to promote the comprehensive competitiveness of Chongqing's China-European Union liner trains and the attractiveness of business chains along the routes to achieve "business chain attraction". This will promote the comprehensive competitiveness of Chongqing's China-Europe liner and the attractiveness of the business chain along the route to achieve "double improvement".
JSC Kazakh National Railways, one of the 15 largest railway companies in the world, is the main operator of Kazakhstan's transport (transit) policy. Koischbayev Yerlan said: "As a shareholder of the Chongqing China-Europe liner, as well as the operator and manager of Kazakhstan's national railway network, we are very concerned about and strongly support the development of the liner company, and hope that the signing of this contract will be an opportunity to deepen cooperation with Chongqing and jointly improve and enhance the service capacity and conditions of relevant yards and stations along the corridor, and to continue to support Chongqing in the development of the China-Europe Liner routes, which will help both sides to achieve "double enhancement" of the attractiveness of the liner chain. South Passage route development, for both sides of the mutual benefit and win-win cooperation to inject sustainable power".
"All along, Chongqing and Kazakhstan Railway have been working closely together. The signing of this agreement will greatly deepen the construction of the China-Europe South Passage, further improve the Asia-Europe corridor system, and contribute to ensuring the efficiency and safety of the global supply chain." The relevant person in charge of the Chongqing Municipal Government Port Logistics Office said that in the future, the two sides will make full use of the advantages of resources and carry out in-depth cooperation in the areas of joint development of Central Asian markets, safety and security of logistics and transport along the route and infrastructure, and the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor.
This article was originally published on New Silkroad Discovery
