Shanghai-based online news outlet Guancha reported that Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy said in a recent interview that the country is actively advancing economic transformation and working to reduce its reliance on oil. China has now replaced Russia as Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner.
As Kazakhstan pushes forward with plans to build new railways and establish a transportation corridor linking its eastern and western regions, cargo traffic from China is expected to grow sharply. Freight volume along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (the “Middle Corridor”), which bypasses Russia, is projected to rise from the current 4.5 million tons to between 7 million and 10 million tons in the coming years.
The Middle Corridor, which integrates rail, road, and sea transport, connects China, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan before reaching Europe via the Black Sea. It is considered the shortest multimodal trade route between China and Europe, significantly reducing transport times. In July, China and Kazakhstan signed a strategic agreement to jointly develop this route.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Economy projects GDP growth of 6 percent this year. Meanwhile, International Monetary Fund forecasts show Kazakhstan’s per capita GDP will climb to US$14,770 in 2025, surpassing Russia’s US$14,260 and ranking first among former Soviet republics.
Source: Guancha, September 24, 2025
https://www.guancha.cn/internation/2025_09_24_791200_2.shtml