It's time for the Central Asia Europe Ban Lie South Passage to rise up!

According to media reports, on May 22nd, Kazakhstan Railway Company (KTZ) signed an agreement with Singapore International Port Group (PSA International) to establish a joint venture company KPMC. The joint venture company will be committed to promoting the development of the Cross Caspian Sea International Transport Route (TITR), strengthening connectivity and trade flows from Southeast Asia and China, through Kazakhstan to Europe.

The international transportation route across the Caspian Sea is a part of the Middle Corridor of the Eurasian continent and an important component of the southbound route of the China Europe train. Harbin Railway Group and Singapore International Port Group will develop the Cross Caspian Sea International Transport Route (TITR) by organizing freight trains and providing end-to-end transportation products and services - promoting freight volume growth, shortening transportation time, and reducing transportation costs through this route.

Chen Congmin, CEO of Singapore International Ports Group, stated: Establishing a joint venture is a milestone moment in the development of the group, expanding our global footprint to Central Asia... By collaborating with Harbin Railway Group to develop a comprehensive physical and digital ecosystem for customers and stakeholders on international transportation routes across the Caspian Sea, we seek to create a seamless and efficient logistics network, providing shippers with an important and valuable choice to enhance their business flexibility, resilience, and Sustainability.

One

Will the development of the southbound route of the China Europe train usher in the best historical development opportunity? Not only is it the cooperation between the two companies mentioned above, but also because

During the China China Asia Summit held in Xi'an from May 18th to 19th, China reached a series of cooperation consensus with the five Central Asian countries. Among the 54 consensus achievements in cooperation, as many as 11 are closely related to strengthening transportation cooperation. They are:

Modernization of existing port facilities;

Realize full coverage of the "green channel" for rapid clearance of agricultural and sideline products at border ports;

Carry out the "single window" interconnection of international trade and promote cross-border customs clearance facilitation;

Promote the construction of the China Central Asia transportation corridor;

Promote multimodal transit transportation through sea ports such as Aktau Port, Kurek Port, and Turkmenbash Port, and leverage the transit transportation potential of Tiermez City;

Promote China Central Asia railway transportation;

Improve transport infrastructure, including new construction, upgrading and reconstruction of existing China Central Asia railways and highways;

Complete the feasibility study work of the China Kyrgyzstan Ukraine Railway and promote the accelerated construction of the railway;

Ensure the smooth operation of the China Jiwu Highway;

Realizing the normal operation of the China Tajikistan Ukraine Highway and the "Western China Western Europe" Highway;

Study the possibility of developing the best transit transportation plan from Central Asian countries to Southeast Asia and other Asian countries.

Two

Aktau, Kurek, and Turkumanbash are all located on the east coast of the Caspian 

Sea

Among them, it is explicitly mentioned that the Trans Li Sea Transport Line (TITR), the Aktau and Kurek ports in Kazakhstan, and the Turkmenbash port in Turkmenistan have become key multimodal transportation hubs for development.

These three ports currently have China Europe freight train lines connected or have successful cases of trial operation of China Europe freight trains. At the stage of insufficient transportation capacity on the cross Caspian Sea route, overseas train operators, including China, are seeking various solutions at these ports.

Three

If promoting the transition of the China Kyrgyzstan Ukraine Railway from the feasibility study stage to the implementation of construction is focused on the future, then ensuring the smooth operation of the China Kyrgyzstan Ukraine Highway and achieving the normal operation of the China Tajikistan Ukraine Highway and the "Western China Western Europe" Highway are considerations based on the current situation.

International road transportation, as a transportation method with a longer history than sea, rail, and air transportation, has always played an important role in stabilizing the production and supply chain. Goods that cannot be carried by railway or air freight, locations that cannot be reached by sea freight, connections between several major modes of transportation, and almost all the last mile of transportation are completed by flexible road transportation.

Whether it is developing economic and trade cooperation with Central Asian countries and regions, or promoting the development of the southbound route of the China Europe train, it is necessary to combine the actual situation of Central Asia and make good use of the existing highway infrastructure.

International road transportation industry insiders have told us that with the reopening of borders between countries, the door-to-door efficiency of roads from China to Europe is highly competitive, and services are becoming more stable, cultivating a group of loyal domestic and foreign customers.

Four

Among the 11 cooperation consensuses, there is also an exploration of the best transit plan for traveling from Central Asian countries to Southeast Asia and other Asian countries. This includes exploring China's potential as a transit hub - a network that relies on China to accelerate trade and logistics between Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea.

Promoting the construction of the China Central Asia transportation corridor and promoting the China Central Asia railway transportation - in this expression, Central Asia is no longer a "subsidiary" of China and Europe.

Once, our policy focus was on Europe, vigorously promoting the development of China Europe trains. Industry insiders always call for more attention to be given to the Central Asian train?

We have developed connectivity with Central Asian countries, ushering in the best historical opportunity since the birth of the "the Belt and Road" initiative 10 years ago. There are both external conditions and internal environmental self demands.

Central Asian countries, like emerging "Asian manufacturing centers" such as Vietnam and Bangladesh, have entered the window of their own historical development. No one is necessarily affiliated with anyone. ASEAN is a rapidly developing emerging market, and Central Asian countries led by Kazakhstan are actively seeking opportunities to participate in the global economic development process. Investment from Europe and America is entering, and investment from China is also expanding.

So, when it comes to the southbound passage and the international transportation routes across the Caspian Sea, we who have watched the frequent movements of European and American capital should no longer have doubts.

It is time to continue to contribute to the ancient Silk Road through the Southern Passage of the China Europe Railway!