Brussels, July 2025– In the heart of Eurasia, Kazakhstan is rapidly transforming into a strategic linchpin for global trade. As geopolitical tensions reshape traditional supply chains, the Central Asian nation is capitalizing on its geographic advantage to become a vital bridge between China and Europe. Through the expansion of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (TITR), Kazakhstan is not only reviving the legacy of the ancient Silk Road but also asserting itself as a modern logistics powerhouse. With record-breaking increases in freight traffic, ambitious infrastructure projects, and growing international partnerships, the country is redefining its role on the global stage — and the world is taking notice.
EU’s growing interest in Kazakhstan under the TITR
A few days ago, a meeting was held in Kazakhstan with the participation of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the EU Delegation to Astana. The Kazakh delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko, while Luc Devigne, Acting Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia at the EEAS, represented the European side. Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their strategic ties during the 22nd meeting of the Kazakhstan–EU Cooperation Committee in Political Configuration (CCPC) on June 17.
Participants emphasized the strategic importance of enhancing transport connectivity, particularly through the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. They stressed the need to move toward concrete actions to modernize infrastructure along this route, with the EU expressing its willingness to allocate €10 billion (approximately $11.5 billion) for this purpose.
In this context, Kazakhstan and the EU positively assessed their cooperation under the Global Gateway initiative, especially following the announcement made in April by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding a €12 billion (approximately $13.8 billion) investment package aimed at improving infrastructure, energy, and digital connectivity between Europe and Central Asia. Kazakhstan confirmed its commitment to actively participate in the relevant regional projects.
The Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water, lies between Asia and Europe. It is bordered by five countries: Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan. As a central country in the Caspian Sea Treaty, the TITR, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the region, Kazakhstan is intensifying its diplomatic efforts and encouraging other Asian countries to use the Trans-Caspian corridor, as Kazakh Prime Minister Smailov did at the Boao Forum for Asia in April 2022.
Europe is indeed turning toward Central Asia, and primarily toward Kazakhstan. As a central country in the Caspian Sea Treaty, the TITR, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Kazakhstan is stepping up its diplomatic efforts and encouraging other Asian countries to use the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, as Prime Minister Smailov did at the Boao Forum for Asia in April 2022. Countries like Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan play a direct role in optimizing the TITR.
The TITR
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) is an international transport corridor that runs through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and then extends to Turkey and European countries. This multimodal infrastructure connects ferry terminals on the Caspian and Black Seas with the railway networks of China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Poland.
Kazakhstan’s Key Role in the TITR
Kazakhstan plays a pivotal role in the development of this Middle Corridor. It shares a 7,600-kilometer border with Russia and a 1,900-kilometer eastern border with the People’s Republic of China. In 2024, bilateral trade between Russia and China amounted to $27.8 billion, while trade between Kazakhstan and China reached $43.8 billion. The Kazakh government is focusing on projects to deepen its economic ties with China, particularly in infrastructure, ranging from railways to pipelines according to the article shared by jamestown.org (source in bibliography). It is also worth noting that Europe is Kazakhstan’s leading economic partner in terms of both trade and investment, with trade turnover reaching nearly $49 billion in 2024 and over $200 billion in cumulative investments since 2005.
As a transit country, Kazakhstan has become an increasingly central player in the China Railway Express (CRE) routes, which have facilitated freight transport from China to Europe since 2011, mainly via Russia through the “Northern Corridor.”
The Middle Corridor allows Europe to bypass Russia. Kazakhstan is also developing rail freight capacity along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), enabling direct links between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Europe. Major investments, including a second railway line between Dostyk and Moyynty and over 2,100 kilometers of new tracks, support Kazakhstan’s growing role in trade routes between China and Europe.
- These enhanced rail investments are boosting Kazakh exports, particularly grain, to China and beyond, reflecting Kazakhstan’s “multi-vector” foreign policy aimed at increasing the country’s prosperity and influence through trade according to — Jamestown Foundation, July 1, 2025. Link Kazakhstan Increases Railway Capacity Along Trans-Caspian International Transport Route – Jamestown.
At the end of 2022, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZh), the national railway company, began construction of a second track on the 837-kilometer Dostyk-Moyynty railway section from the Chinese border to facilitate rail traffic with the PRC. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made this decision with support from the sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna and regional akimats (local government heads), who called the initiative “very important” for the country’s transport and transit capacity according to — Jamestown Foundation. These include a new railway line bypassing the old Soviet-era transport hub of Almaty and a new Darbaza-Maktaaral line in the south of the country. The latter will become a convenient and short route connecting central Kazakhstan to Turkmenistan and Iran.
Over the past five years, the volume of goods transported through Kazakhstan has increased a lot.
The TITR is the shortest rail route between China and Europe, passing through Kazakhstan. A Kazakh terminal has already been built and is operational at the dry port of Xi’an in China’s Shaanxi province. One-third of container trains exported from China to Europe via Kazakhstan depart from this dry port, and 40% of the cargo imported through this port transits through Kazakhstan according to — Jamestown Foundation. . In addition to increasing the transit capacity of the Kazakh terminal in Xi’an on the TITR by a factor of 20, this terminal reduces delivery times to 11 days between China and Azerbaijan and 14 days between China and Georgia.
The multiplication of China–Europe routes via Kazakhstan will undoubtedly continue as part of Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy. The improvement of railway infrastructure also enables Kazakhstan to increase its exports to China. Since 2020, overall rail freight traffic between Kazakhstan and China has increased by 48%, reaching 32 million tons per year, while exports have grown by 25%, reaching 13.7 million tons.
Kazakhstan has high ambitions for the TITR. On May 30, 2025, during the Central Asia–Italy Summit, President Tokayev stated:
“By developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, our countries are, in a way, reviving the ancient Silk Road on a new foundation. Last year, container traffic on the Kazakh section of this corridor increased by 62%, reaching 4.5 million tons. Within three years, we aim to double this figure.”
In short, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (TITR) is one of the branches of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Its political significance continues to grow. The Middle Corridor also facilitates major energy projects across the Caspian Sea and surrounding countries. This corridor will allow Central Asian countries to play an intermediary role in trade between the EU and China — through a combined system of rail freight and maritime transport.
Already a key transit country for Chinese and European goods, Kazakhstan sees the TITR as an opportunity to strengthen its logistical position by diversifying freight flows and developing infrastructure in the western part of the country. It is worth noting that Kazakhstan is of vital importance to Europe, as it supplies 60% of its uranium exports to the West.
Kazakh President Tokayev plays a key role in accelerating the development of this corridor. For example, in November 2024, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with the head of the French shipping company CMA CGM. In May 2024, Kazakhstan signed an agreement with Turkey aimed at simplifying international combined freight transport. This agreement includes the simplification of multimodal transport via Caspian Sea ports and the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway line.
An important aspect is the development of piggyback transport (loading trucks onto trains) and the implementation of a single transport document for rail and sea, which will be issued electronically via an automated digital platform. The ratification of this agreement is expected to reduce freight transport time via the TITR to just 5 days.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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