President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, emphasized the key role of the flagship project, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, during his speech at the opening of the 3rd Belt and Road International Cooperation Forum in Beijing, Zakon.kz reports.
By connecting China, Central Asia, and Europe, the Trans-Caspian corridor can become a "continental bridge" of the Belt and Road, significantly reducing transportation times and costs.
"Kazakhstan and China have signed two intergovernmental agreements on the development of the Trans-Caspian route. I am confident that they will yield tangible results in the near future. To coordinate our efforts more effectively, I propose creating a partnership network of major strategic ports, logistics centers, and postal hubs. We are also interested in establishing joint production of transport ships and containers. Kazakhstan is ready to serve as a reliable air bridge and convenient harbor for leading global airlines, ensuring sustainable passenger and cargo traffic," said Tokayev.
In his opinion, partnership within the framework of the "Digital Silk Road" initiative, which represents a new global project, offers significant opportunities.
"I am sure that building a new model of digital and intellectual interaction will make a significant contribution to the innovative development of our economies. In the new decade of the Belt and Road initiative, Kazakhstan will continue to fully contribute to achieving common success. I am convinced that under your wise leadership, respected Chairman Xi Jinping, the PRC will achieve even more remarkable success in building a new era of China based on the concept of a shared future for mankind," Tokayev concluded his speech.
The forum also featured speeches by China's President Xi Jinping, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo, Argentina's President Alberto Fernández, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
More than 20 heads of state and representatives from over 130 countries and international organizations are participating in the forum.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
October 18, 2023