ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 22. Kazakhstan proposed to launch a new multimodal transit communication between China, Kazakhstan, and Russia using the Irtysh River, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin wrote on his Facebook page, Trend reports.
"Goods can be delivered to China by river transport with transshipment to rail transport at Zaysan Lake and further to the new Maikapchagai - Zimunai rail border crossing," he said.
According to him, this would create an alternative to traditional rail and road transportation and increase trade turnover by an additional 3 million tons.
Meanwhile, the volume of cargo transportation by rail between Kazakhstan and China amounted to 10.1 million tons from January through April 2024.
Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ), the national company, says this means a 14 percent rise over 2023's same period.
At the same time, the volume of export transportation from Kazakhstan to China increased by 21 percent and amounted to 4.5 million tons.
Cargo was transported through two border checks. Thus, cargo transportation through the Altynkol-Khorgos border crossing amounted to 4.2 million tons. In addition, through the Dostyk station, 5.9 million tons were transferred to China and back.