BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 18. Rail freight
transportation between Kazakhstan and China increased by 9%
year-on-year to 18.7 million tons in the first half of 2026.


This was announced by the press service of Kazakhstan’s Ministry
of Transport, citing remarks by Yeldos Nestay, Deputy Chairman of
the Committee for Railway and Water Transport, at the Baktu-2026
forum in Tacheng, China.


According to the ministry, the forum focused on the development
of trade and economic ties, as well as cross-border cooperation
between China and the Central Asian countries.


The Ministry noted that, in the course of the meeting, Nestay
stated that the country is continuing to develop the East-West and
North-South transport corridors, the Trans-Caspian International
Transport Route (TITR), as well as border and port
infrastructure.


"Particular importance in this work is attached to cooperation
with China. In the first half of 2026, the volume of rail freight
transportation between Kazakhstan and China reached 18.7 million
tons, increasing by 9%. At the same time, exports from Kazakhstan
during this period increased by more than 10%. These results
clearly reflect the strengthening of transport connectivity between
our countries," Nestay said.







The official said the Baktu-Ayagoz railway project, which is 303
kilometers long, is one of the key projects for expanding transport
cooperation between Kazakhstan and China. Construction of the
railway line is progressing, with work underway on the roadbed,
bridges and other structures. Rail track installation has also
begun. About 1,400 specialists and 900 units of equipment are
involved in the project.


The project is expected to open a third railway border crossing
between Kazakhstan and China and increase the capacity of the
transport corridor to 25 million tons of cargo per year.


The Baktu-2026 forum was held for the fifth time and brought
together representatives of Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport, the
administration of Abai region, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy,
Kedentransservice, and the business community.