Reference News Network reported on June 12 (text/Lu Huadong) On June 9, the whistle in Kazakhstan's Aktao Port was exciting and the ribbons were flying. The train loading the 100,000th standard container of the China-Europe freight train across the Caspian Sea transport accurately entered the newly completed container hub area, marking another benchmark project for China and Kazakhstan's high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" - the pilot area of ​​the Aktao Port Container Hub Project is officially opened, which will inject strong momentum into the trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor.

The International Trans-Caspian Sea Transport Corridor starts from China, passes through Kazakhstan, crosses the Caspian Sea, then passes through Azerbaijan and Georgia, and finally arrives in Europe. This international logistics channel that travels through the middle of the Eurasian continent is the shortest multimodal trade route connecting China and Europe.

It is worth noting that against the background of profound transformation of the global logistics pattern and accelerated reallocation of freight flows, the importance of trans-Caspian international transportation routes is rising sharply. In the past year alone, in Kazakhstan, the freight volume of this route has increased by an astonishing 33 times compared with 2023, which has strongly confirmed its huge practical significance and development potential.

The Aktao Port Container Hub Project is located on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan. Behind the Aktao Port Terminal, it is a key node to connect the Baku Port Port of Azerbaijan and improve the transportation capacity and timeliness of the trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor. This also means that the "main artery" of land-sea transport from the Yellow Sea to the Caspian Sea has added a modern "gas station" and "dispatch station".

It is understood that the project is invested in the construction and operation of Lianyungang Port Group, Harbin Railway Express Co., Ltd. and Aktau International Trade Port State-owned Co., Ltd. at a share ratio of 51%, 24.5% and 24.5%. The total area is about 19 hectares and the annual design throughput is 240,000 TEUs.

The project is constructed in two phases. The first phase covers an area of ​​9.1 hectares, has 3 railway loading and unloading lines, about 690 flat box spaces, and is equipped with advanced loading and unloading equipment, which can realize the full process of container transfer, inspection and dangerous goods handling. After the first phase pilot zone is officially opened, it will have container transport and storage functions.

"The opening of the pilot zone is an important milestone in Kazakhstan's transportation system and an important step in the construction of international transportation routes connecting China and Europe and across the Caspian Sea." Damir Kozakhmetov, general manager of Kazakh Express Co., Ltd., who participated in the project construction, said in an interview with our reporter.

Damir Kozakhmetov said that the construction of modern transport infrastructure along the Caspian coast will shorten the total time for cargo transportation between China, Central Asian countries and Europe, make the cross-Caspian route more reliable, competitive, and facilitate business development.

"In addition, the project will create new jobs, promote the development of industries such as warehousing and logistics, station services, and open up more opportunities for import and export business," he said.

Zakupov Nurlan, chairman of the Management Committee of the "Samluk-Kazina" State Fund Co., Ltd., pointed out that Kazakhstan State Railway Company and Lianyungang Port Group have established a fruitful cooperative relationship for more than ten years. The Aktao Port Container Hub is a continuation of cooperation between the two sides. This new container hub will become an important part of the development of modern logistics infrastructure in Kazakhstan and even Eurasia, providing new opportunities for international supply chain participants.

Lianyungang, located on the coast of the Yellow Sea, is the starting point of the eastern end of the New Eurasian Continental Bridge and an important participant in China-Kazakhstan logistics cooperation.

As the first physical platform to implement the initiative to jointly build the "Belt and Road", since its official launch on May 19, 2014, the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base has accumulated a total of more than 2.27 million TEUs.

In May 2017, Lianyungang Port Group participated in the "Horgos-East Gate" waterless port project in Kazakhstan. The project has facilities such as China-Kazakhstan Railway Replacement Station, Wheat Freight Station, Packaging Freight Station, Container Stove Freight Station, and Container Stove. It is the second physical project for China and Kazakhstan to cooperate in the field of logistics. In 2024, the base assumed 19% of the replacement volume of China's westbound trains, becoming an important replacement base for cross-border transportation of China-Europe freight trains.

"China is not only a supplier of equipment and technology, but also a reliable partner for us to develop and implement new transportation solutions." Damir Kozakhmetov said that China's practical experience in building efficient transportation hubs, digitization of logistics and the application of modern management technologies is particularly valuable.

Damir Kozakhmetov is full of confidence in the future of China-Kazakhstan logistics cooperation. “We are expanding our logistics services and optimizing railway infrastructure for growing freight volumes.” He hopes that Aktao Port can become a sustainable and attractive entrance for suppliers from China, Central Asia and Europe to enter the Caspian Sea route.

On June 9, the opening ceremony of the pilot area of ​​the first phase of the Aktao Port Container Hub Project was held. (Photo provided by the interviewee)