China to build major logistics hub near Almaty

China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) will invest 1 billion yuan (about $137 million) to build a transport and logistics center near Almaty, according to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway company.

The decision was made on Feb. 19 in Urumqi, XUAR’s capital, during a meeting between XUAR Communist Party Secretary Ma Xingrui and KTZ CEO Nurlan Sauranbayev.

Ma noted that rail traffic between China and Kazakhstan has been increasing annually, reaching a record 32 million tons in 2024.

«Plans for 2025-2026 include creating a transport and logistics hub in the Almaty agglomeration, developing the Dostyk-Alashankou border crossing and expediting the Bakhty-Ayagoz railway line construction,» KTZ said in a statement.

Both sides emphasized the need to establish a joint commission, including government agencies, to coordinate cargo transportation across all modes. Officials have been appointed to each project, with strict deadlines for implementation.

A transport and logistics center (TLC) is a specialized facility for processing, storing, distributing and transporting cargo. It integrates warehouses, terminals, logistics companies and customs infrastructure to optimize cargo flow management.

On Feb.18, Kursiv.media reported that the Export-Import Bank of China (Exim Bank) expressed willingness to help finance the construction of a metro system in Almaty.