Shymkent in Kazakhstan, a vibrant urban center and a former trade hub on the ancient Silk Road, is now home to the Shymkent Oil Refinery, a cornerstone of Kazakhstan's energy infrastructure and a key example of China-Kazakhstan cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Built in the 1970s, the refinery received a major upgrade from 2014 to 2018 with the support of the China National Petroleum Corporation. It now produces over 40 percent of the nation's gasoline and has helped to boost local employment.