Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan’s leaders, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, participated in a videoconference on August 8, to officially mark the arrival of the first container train on the China-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan route. The train traveled from Xi’an to Tashkent, covering a distance of 4,486 km in just 5 days.
The successful journey shows the ongoing efforts to enhance transport and transit capabilities between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. These developments follow agreements made in Khiva in April 2024, focusing on organizing freight transportation on the China-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan route and developing the Trans-Afghan corridor.
The container train’s expedited journey was made possible by utilizing Kazakhstan’s terminal facilities in China and through close coordination between the railway administrations of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This collaboration has also contributed to the expansion of border infrastructure, ensuring smoother cargo transportation.
In 2023, cargo transportation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan exceeded 31 mn tons, reflecting a 17.2% increase compared to 2022. This growth highlights the strengthening economic ties and the effectiveness of the newly established routes in facilitating trade between the two countries.
