China and Kazakhstan have collaborated extensively on the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly in the development of transportation infrastructure such as road and railway networks, which have brought considerable advantages to both countries, fostering better connectivity and shared prosperity. In 2022, the railway freight volume between China and Kazakhstan reached 23 million tons, marking a 20 percent year-on-year increase.
A standout example of such cooperation is the Dostyk-Moyinty railway (DMR) in eastern Kazakhstan, linking the Kazakh-China border crossing at Dostyk to Kazakhstan’s interior.
The railway was originally built in the 1950s and is now being upgraded to add a new line to accommodate China’s growing transport demand. The second railway line, which will be completed by 2025, spans 836 km. Once completed, its capacity is expected to increase fivefold.
“China is Kazakhstan’s most important strategic partner and investor. Chinese investment has boosted Kazakhstan’s development. Many of our cooperation projects with China are mutually beneficial,” said a contractor of the construction project of the Dostyk-Moyinty railway’s second line.